LsRTDv1: A reference transcript dataset for accurate transcript-specific expression analysis in lettuce

Accurate quantification of gene and transcript-specific expression, with the underlying knowledge of precise transcript isoforms, is crucial to understanding many biological processes. Analysis of RNA sequencing data has benefited from the development of alignment-free algorithms which enhance the precision and speed of expression analysis. However, such algorithms require a reference transcriptome. Here we present a reference transcript dataset (LsRTDv1) for lettuce, combining long- and short-read sequencing with publicly available transcriptome annotations, and filtering to keep only transcripts with high-confidence splice junctions and transcriptional start and end sites. LsRTDv1 is a valuable resource for the investigation of transcriptional and alternative splicing regulation in lettuce.