De Novo Transcriptome Analysis in Hevea brasiliensis to Unveil Genes Involved in Low Temperature Stress Response

Low temperature is one of the adversities threatening the growth and development and reduces the yield of rubber trees. However, molecular mechanisms toward rubber trees in response to low temperature are largely unclear. In this study, 7,159 and 7,600 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in 'Reyan 73397' rubber trees. Through GO analysis, the catalytic activity was the representative of the GO term in the only DEGs at the two studied temperatures (room temperature and 4 degrees C, respectively), while KEGG analysis showed that carbon metabolism was the most important grouping under the comparison of these two temperatures. In addition, expression of 9 members of transcription factor MYB family genes were further verified by qRT-PCR, and MYB family genes may play important roles in the regulation of rubber trees under low temperature stress. This study provided a theoretical foundation for (1) revealing the molecular mechanisms of rubber trees in response to low temperature and (2) breeding of tolerant varieties of rubber trees.