*2.7. Expression Profiles of Cassava PODs During PPD*

Transcriptome analyses were conducted at different postharvest periods of the storage roots of SC124 to examine the possible function of *MePOD* genes during PPD (Figure 6C; Table S5). Transcriptional data were obtained for 71 of the 91 MePODs. Of these MePODs, 38 genes were induced (log2-based fold change > 1) at a minimum of one time point. Notably, *MePOD-1, -6, -13, -15, -24, -25, -33, -39, -45, -46, -81,* and *-91* were continuously upregulated (log2-based fold change > 1) at all points. Conversely, *MePOD-7, -8, -9, -12, -23, -38, -50, -70, -71,* and *-88* were downregulated (log2-based fold change < −1) at all tested times. These results suggest the possibility that MePODs play a role during PPD in cassava.
