Transcriptome analysis of buds of mulberry genotypes contrasting in growth

Mulberry genotypes are classified based on their contrasting growth behavior and bud break dynamics study showed that contrasting genotypes had differential bud break. To investigate the role of differential bud break break in determining the growth behavior RNA-seq analysis of buds were carried out. Buds from 1 year old matured plants of mulberry genotypes contrasting in growth i.e., high growth (Thailand Local, TL) and low growth (Matigara White, MW). Bud break in mulberry was classified into four different stages based on previous study and bud break was induced by decapitation. Bud break in high growth occurred in 7 days after decapitation (DAD) while in low growth it was at 10 DAD. Hence, the buds were analyzed at 0 days (dormant buds) and 7th day after decapitation in high growth and low growth genotype. At 7 DAD, high growth (TL) buds were at stage 2 while the low growth (MW) were at stage 1. Hence, the transcriptome of buds were analyzed and compared to understand the mechanism of bud break in mulberry and also to elucidate the role of differential bud break in contrasting growth behavior.