Root Transcriptomes of Three Caladium Cultivars (Caladium ×hortulanum). Caladium bicolor

Caladium (Caladium ×hortulanum Birdsey), a member of the Araceae (aroid) family, is an important foliage plant used in pots, hanging baskets and landscapes. Caladium root rot, caused by several necrotrophic soil-borne pathogens, is a major disease affecting caladium root health and tuber yield and quality. The objectives in this study were to 1) assemble, annotate and characterize root transcriptomes of three caladium cultivars differing in susceptibility to Pythium root rot, 2) identify putative transcripts involved in plant disease resistance or defense pathways, and 3) identify SSR and SNP sites for molecular marker development.