Next Generation Sequencing Aided Study of Influence of the Systemic Suckercide Maleic Hydrazide on Global Changes of Tobacco Gene Expression

A practical, non-polluting and cost-effective solution to sucker control is considered to be one of the "holy grails" in production of tobacco and other crops. Topping of tobacco triggers several developmental and metabolic pathways that control axillary shoot (sucker) formation. Repression or activation of some genes involved in these pathways can inhibit sucker formation. One commonly used agronomic practice to control sucker formation is to apply chemical suckercides that inhibit axillary shoot formation. Maleic hydrazide (MH) is a widely used systemic suckercide that is also being evaluated as a chemical topping agent. In order to tightly control sucker formation, a detailed understanding of gene expression responding to topping and suckercide application will be critical. In this study, we propose to reveal the influence on gene expression by MH on chemically and manually topped tobacco plants. 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 the molecular mode of action for MH as a suckercide and a chemical topping agent.