Transcriptome changes in reciprocal grafts involving watermelon and bottle gourd reveal molecular mechanisms involved in increase of the fruit size, rind toughness and soluble solids

In this study, to determine the regulatory networks mediating grafting on the sensory features of watermelon and bottle gourd fruit, we performed a comprehensive transcriptome analysis of different tissues (root, stem, leaf and fruit) of grafted watermelon onto bottle gourd rootstock and its reciprocal grafted set as compared with self-grafted plants. Furthermore, RNA-seq data were used to identify mobile transcripts in these heterografts.