Selection of the optimal reference genes for expression analyses in different materials of Eriobotrya japonica

摘要

BackgroundLoquat (Eriobotrya japonica) is a subtropical tree bearing fruit that ripens during late spring and early summer, which is the off-season for fruit production. The specific flowering habit of loquat, which starts in fall and ends in winter, has attracted an increasing number of researchers who believe that it may represent an ideal model for studying flowering shift adaptations to climate change in Rosaceae. These studies require an understanding of gene expression patterns within the fruit and other tissues of this plant. Although ACTINs (ACTs) have previously been used as reference genes (RGs) for gene expression studies in loquats, a comprehensive analysis of whether these RGs are optimal for normalizing RT-qPCR data has not been performed.