Welcome to the Lettuce Expression Browser (LEB)
The Lettuce Expression Browser (LEB) is a comprehensive resource for exploring RNA-seq data across a diverse range of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) varieties and wild Lactuca species. This platform features tissue-specific gene expression data collected from finely dissected tissues and experimental conditions, organised into dedicated tabs for each experiment to ensure easy navigation and exploration.
The data presented in LEB were collected during research conducted within the Dutch LettuceKnow programme, which focuses on advancing lettuce genomics and breeding. LEB makes these data freely available in an easy-to-visualise form, empowering researchers to study gene expression dynamics across different tissues and conditions.
LEB will be expanded in the future with new datasets, including additional tissues, developmental stages, and lettuce accessions. Researchers using data from LEB are kindly requested to cite van Workum et al., 2025 in their publications.
LEB serves as a valuable tool for advancing discoveries in lettuce biology and supporting research within the Asteraceae family. Explore LEB to unlock insights into lettuce genetics and beyond!
Currently, the LEB contains the following tabs (experiments):
| Experiment | Short description |
|---|---|
| Seedling tissue map | A map of finely dissected tissues at seedling stage for four Lactuca species. |
| Shoot developmental stages | Expression from seedling stage to bolting stage for three Lactuca species. |
| Seedling far-red time series | The effect of far-red light on seedlings at two distinct time points for L. sativa. |
| Seedling abiotic stress | The effect of growing seedlings for 24 hours under salt stress or far-red light for L. sativa. |
Seedling tissue map
Five Lactuca genotypes were grown on vertical plates containing 1/2MS medium with a dark-root system under long-day conditions (16h light/8h dark, 21°C/20°C). The genotypes included L. sativa cv. Salinas (CGN25281), L. sativa cv. Cobham Green (CGN25296), L. serriola (US96UC23), L. saligna (CGN05327), and L. virosa (CGN04683). L. sativa and L. serriola seedlings were harvested after 7 days, while L. saligna and L. virosa were grown for 10–11 days due to slower growth. Twelve shoot and root tissues were manually dissected for transcriptomic analysis. Gene expression was quantified as TPM values after aligning to their respective reference genomes (L. sativa and L. serriola: GCF_002870075.4, L. saligna: GCA_949927565.1, L. virosa: GCA_928212115.1).
The full TPM tables can be downloaded here for L. sativa and L. serriola here for L. saligna and here for L. virosa.
Selection panel
Species:
Accession:
Gene:
(Optional) maximum TPM:
(Optional) plot height:
(Optional) plot width:
Table
Shoot developmental stages
Four Lactuca genotypes were grown in a greenhouse under semi-controlled conditions (16h light/8h dark, 23°C/17°C, 60% humidity, CO₂ at 800 ppm). The genotypes included L. sativa cv. Salinas (CGN25281), L. sativa cv. Cobham Green (CGN25296), L. serriola (US96UC23), and L. saligna (CGN05327). Plants were sampled at key developmental stages based on the BBCH scale, from early leaf formation to bolting. Young leaves (1–2 cm) and shoot apical meristem (SAM)-enriched samples were collected for transcriptomic analysis. Gene expression was quantified as TPM values after aligning to their respective reference genomes (L. sativa and L. serriola: GCF_002870075.4, L. saligna: GCA_949927565.1).
The full TPM tables can be downloaded here for L. sativa and L. serriola and here for L. saligna.
Selection panel
Species:
Accession:
Gene:
(Optional) maximum TPM:
(Optional) plot height:
(Optional) plot width:
Table
Seedling far-red time series
L. sativa cv. Salinas (CGN25281) seedlings were grown on vertical plates containing 1/2MS medium with a dark-root system under long-day conditions (16h light/8h dark, 21°C/20°C, 70% humidity). Two days post-germination, seedlings were transferred to either white light (control) or far-red-supplemented light (R:FR = 0.3). Root and shoot samples were collected after 13.75 and 48 hours for transcriptomic analysis. Gene expression was quantified as TPM values after aligning to the L. sativa reference genome (GCF_002870075.4).
The full TPM tables can be downloaded here for L. sativa.
Selection panel
Gene:
(Optional) maximum TPM:
(Optional) plot height:
(Optional) plot width:
Table
Seedling abiotic stress
L. sativa cv. Olof (CGN05786) seedlings were grown hydroponically under long-day conditions (16h light/8h dark, 21°C/18°C). At 14 days post-germination, plants were subjected to one of the three treatments: 100 mM NaCl added to the medium, supplemental far-red light (R:FR = 0.15) or control conditions. Gene expression was quantified as TPM values after aligning to the L. sativa reference genome (GCF_002870075.4).
The full TPM tables can be downloaded here for L. sativa.
Selection panel
Gene:
(Optional) maximum TPM:
(Optional) plot height:
(Optional) plot width: