Identification of Topping- and Suckercide- Responsive Genes inTobacco by Next-Generation Gene Sequencing

In this study, we propose to reveal how tobacco plants respond to topping and suckercides by differential gene expression. We will approach this using an analytical platform known as RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq). RNA-seq is rapid, affordable and high resolution gene-expression profiling through sequencing of expressed gene populations. The outcomes of this study will allow a better understanding of suckerdevelopment related genes and their products. It will also aid the identification of strong topping-inducible gene promoters that can be used to construct topping-inducible gene-expression vectors.