Data from: Transcriptomics of host-specific interactions in natural populations of the parasitic plant purple witchweed (Striga hermonthica)

Host-specific interactions can maintain genetic and phenotypic diversity in parasites that attack multiple host species. Host diversity, in turn, may promote parasite diversity by selection for genetic divergence or plastic responses to host type. The parasitic weed purple witchweed [Striga hermonthica (Delile) Benth.] causes devastating crop losses in sub-Saharan Africa and is capable of infesting a wide range of grass hosts. Despite some evidence for host adaptation and host-by-Striga genotype interactions, little is known about intraspecific Striga genomic diversity. Here we present a study of transcriptomic diversity in populations of S. hermonthica growing on different hosts (maize [Zea mays L.] vs. grain sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]). We examined gene expression variation and differences in allelic frequency in expressed genes of aboveground tissues from populations in western Nigeria parasitizing each host. Despite low levels of host-based genome-wide differentiation, we identified a set of parasite transcripts specifically associated with each host. Parasite genes in several different functional categories implicated as important in host–parasite interactions differed in expression level and allele on different hosts, including genes involved in nutrient transport, defense and pathogenesis, and plant hormone response. Overall, we provide a set of candidate transcripts that demonstrate host-specific interactions in vegetative tissues of the emerged parasite S. hermonthica. Our study shows how signals of host-specific processes can be detected aboveground, expanding the focus of host–parasite interactions beyond the haustorial connection. Trimmed RNAseq for Maize_1_forward_pairedMaize_1_forward_paired.fqTrimmed RNAseq for Maize_1_reserved_pairedMaize_1_reverse_paired.fqTrimmed RNAseq for Maize_2_forward_pairedMaize_2_forward_paired.fqTrimmed RNAseq for Maize_2_reverse_pairedMaize_2_reverse_paired.fqTrimmed RNAseq for Maize_3_reverse_pairedMaize_3_reverse_paired.fqTrimmed RNAseq for Maize_3_forward_pairedMaize_3_forward_paired.fqTrimmed RNAseq for Sorghum_1_forward_pairedSorghum_1_forward_paired.fqTrimmed RNAseq for Sorghum_1_reverse_pairedSorghum_1_reverse_paired.fqTrimmed RNAseq for Sorghum_2_forward_pairedSorghum_2_forward_paired.fqTrimmed RNAseq for Sorghum_2_reverse_pairedSorghum_2_reverse_paired.fqTrimmed RNAseq for Sorghum_3_forward_pairedSorghum_3_forward_paired.fqTrimmed RNAseq for Sorghum_3_reverse_pairedSorghum_3_reverse_paired.fqTrimmed RNAseq for Sorghum_4_forward_pairedSorghum_4_forward_paired.fqTrimmed RNAseq for Sorghum_4_reverse_pairedSorghum_4_reverse_paired.fqTrimmed RNAseq for Sorghum_5_reverse_pairedSorghum_5_reverse_paired.fqTrimmed RNAseq for Sorghum_5_forward_pairedSorghum_5_forward_paired.fqTrimmed RNAseq for Sorghum_6_forward_pairedSorghum_6_forward_paired.fqTrimmed RNAseq for Sorghum_7_forward_pairedSorghum_7_forward_paired.fqTrimmed RNAseq for Sorghum_6_reverse_pairedSorghum_6_reverse_paired.fqTrimmed RNAseq for Sorghum_8_reverse_pairedSorghum_8_reverse_paired.fqTrimmed RNAseq for Sorghum_7_reverse_pairedSorghum_7_reverse_paired.fqTrimmed RNAseq for Sorghum_8_forward_pairedSorghum_8_forward_paired.fqTrimmed RNAseq for Sorghum_9_reverse_pairedSorghum_9_reverse_paired.fqTrimmed RNAseq for Sorghum_9_forward_pairedSorghum_9_forward_paired.fqTrimmed RNAseq for Sorghum_10_forward_pairedSorghum_10_forward_paired.fqTrimmed RNAseq for Sorghum_10_reverse_pairedSorghum_10_reverse_paired.fqTrimmed RNAseq for Sorghum_11_reverse_pairedSorghum_11_reverse_paired.fqTrimmed RNAseq for Sorghum_11_forward_pairedSorghum_11_forward_paired.fqTable_Samples_InformationThis file contains all information regarding the RNAseq libraries/samples.Annotation_diferentially_expressed_transcriptsAnnotated transcripts detected as deferentially expressed in S. hermonthica growing in Sorghum vs Maize. The table also contains the values for the expression levels.Suplemmentary_table_5.xlsxAnnotation_transcripts_containing_outliersAnnotated transcripts with outliers in S. hermonthica growing in Sorghum vs Maize.Supplementary_table_3.xlsx