Transcriptome Sequencing of RNA Samples

RNA extraction and transcriptome sequencing were carried out as described by Padovan et al. [27 (link)]. Briefly, the samples were ground to a fine powder in a mortar and pestle under liquid nitrogen. Total RNA was extracted using the Spectrum Total RNA Kit as per the manufacturer’s instructions (Sigma Aldrich, MO, USA). We then used the Illumina TruSeq RNA library preparation kit as per manufacturer’s instructions (Illumina Inc., CA, USA). The libraries were validated on a Bioanalyzer 2100 (Agilent Techonolgies, CA, USA), pooled and sequenced on two lanes of the Illumina HiSeq 2000 platform at the Biomolecular Resource Facility at the Australian National University, using a 150 bp paired-end run (all sequences were uploaded to the SRA database under the Bioproject ID: PRJNA388506).