Transcriptomic analysis of Hevea brasiliensis seedlings under supplemental LED night lighting

Hevea brasiliensis is an important economic crop which produces natural rubber. Supplemental LED night lighting improves its growth, however the underlying molecular mechanism remains unknown. The study analyzed the transcriptome of H. brasiliensis plants under the treatment of LED night lighting. The light treatment resulted in 1047 and 411 differentially expression genes (DEGs) during the day and night time, respectively. Functional group analysis showed that DEGs in the day time enriched into 185 metabolic pathways and that DEGs in the night time enriched into 116 metabolic pathways. A total of 92 DEGs were identified between night lighting and control plants. These DEGs were involved in regulation of pigment metabolism, photosynthesis, circadian rhythm, and carbohydrate metabolism. The genes associated with circadian rhythm were altered during the day and night time. The gene involved in carbohydrate metabolic process was upregulated and the related KEGG pathways associated carbohydrate metabolism were upregulated. These results concluded that supplemental LED night lighting improve growth of hevea plants by upregulating genes associated with photosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism, so as to synthesize more carbohydrates.