Condition-specific genes of Ulva compressa under light intensity and temperature stress

The experiment aimed to explore the possible life activities of Ulva compressa under different environmental conditions, e.g., light intensity and temperature stress. Orthogonal experiment of three temperature levels and three light intensity levels were designed, and there were a totally nine groups. The transcriptome of U. compressa was studied in specific genes after RNA extraction, sequencing, transcriptome assembly, annotation, and expression analysis. It was showed that U. compressa was selectively expressed condition-specific genes under certain conditions, thereby maintaining related life activities, which was different from the algae in the Yellow Sea green tide. Two categories of condition-specific genes were divided according to the results, wherein one type of genes was more obviously expressed under the influence of light, while the other one was obviously influenced by temperature. It seemed that these changes might benefit for U. compressa to temporarily increase the efficiency of photosynthesis and have more gene expression in terms of reproduction and nutrition, laying the foundation for further exploration of its environmental adaptability different from other algae.