*2.10. qRT-PCR Verification*

We used real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) to validate the expression levels of three randomly selected transcripts (TRINITY\_DN1020\_c0\_g1\_i3, TRINITY\_DN1284\_c0\_g1\_i11, and TRINITY\_DN500\_c0\_g1\_i2). Forward and reverse primers of the three transcripts and the internal control (β-actin) were predicted using Prime3 and synthesized at BGI-Shenzhen. The procedure of the qRT-PCR experiment was the same as the previous study [21]. Each transcript was measured three times in every sample and three independent repeats were performed (*n* = 9). The Delta cycle threshold ( ΔCt) was used to present the expression of a transcript in the sample and ΔΔCt was used to show the expression di fference between two samples. We used the relative normalized expression (RNE) to show the expression changes: *RNE* = 2−Ct.
