Identification of differentially expressed genes in Chrysanthemum nankingense (Asteraceae) under heat stress by RNA Seq

•Firstly research Chrysanthemum nankingense under heat stress by RNA Seq•Classify differentially expressed genes in nine categories•A model of CnHsp and CnHsf network under heat stress was proposed.•Provide much information available to further study in chrysanthemum

The RNA-Seq platform was used to characterize the high-temperature stress response of Chrysanthemum nankingense. A set of 54,668 differentially expressed unigenes was identified. After a threshold of ratio change ≥ 2 and a q-value of < 0.05 were applied, the number of differentially transcribed genes was reduced to 3955, of which 765 were up-regulated and 3190 were down-regulated in response to heat stress. The differentially transcribed genes were predicted to participate in 26 biological processes, 4 cellular components, and 13 molecular functions. Among the most differentially expressed genes between the two libraries were well-recognized high-temperature responsive protein families, such as heat shock factors and heat shock proteins, various transcription factor families, and a number of RNA metabolism-related genes. Overall, the RNA-Seq analyses revealed a high degree of transcriptional complexity in early heat stress response. Some of these high-temperature responsive C. nankingense genes may prove useful in efforts to improve thermotolerance of commercial chrysanthemum.