Initial Studies on Cucumber Transcriptome Analysis under Silicon Treatment

Abstract

This study provides first results of transcriptome data for Cucumis sativus under sodium silicate (Si) supplementation, in order to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). In vitro-generated clonal C. sativus line B10 material, derived from leaf microexplants, was established and the plants were cultivated in Murashige and Skoog medium, non-supplemented and Si-supplemented with Na2(SiO2)xxH2O, respectively. The mRNA enrichment of pooled leaf and stem material from both the control and sodium Si-supplemented plants was performed, followed by RNA-Seq. Analysis of the cucumber transcriptome of the control and the Si-treated plants allowed for the determination of 18,957 and 18,882 transcripts referring to 19,896 genes. In total, 1,136 DEGs were determined and 522 (46 %) were assigned to biological processes, in most instances related to primary metabolism (photosynthesis, transport, biosynthesis), thereby supporting previous reports about the impact of Si on plant development, while some transcripts belong to secondary metabolism enabling subsequent analyses including stresses. Some transcripts were slightly up- or down-regulated and might be related to NaCl traces, due to the form of Si used in this instance. These transcriptome data provide the first insights into intermediate Si-accumulating cucumber tissue culture under sodium Sitreatment, with prior analyses on abiotic and biotic stresses.