Diversified response of Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp. genotypes to high air humidity: a meta-analysis of transcriptome data

Background: A coordinated plant response to abiotic factors is essential for growth and development. It was detected changes in plant architecture for drought-tolerant and warm-season cowpea in high relative humidity condition. Plants tend to have indeterminate growth habit and elongated stem length. Identifying of molecular mechanisms that maintain cowpea's determinate growth pattern regardless of growing conditions, is essential for developing breeding programs. Meta-analysis of transcriptome data will be enabled to determine the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in different cowpea genotypes with a diversified response to high relative humidity.

Aim: To identify unique DEGs involved in maintaining of cowpea determinate growth habit under high humidity conditions using meta-analysis of transcriptome data.

Methods: The bioinformatic analysis of RNA-seq data was carried out using a meta-analysis approach.

Results: The analysis identified DEGs associated with a diversified response to high relative humidity (90%). Gene expression associated with ethylene and auxin signaling was significantly different.

Conclusion: This research makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying plant adaptation to high humidity. Further allelic screening of the identified genes will likely yield new data that will be key to develop new approaches to targeted breeding programs.