Physiological and transcriptomic analysis revealed the involvement of crucial factors in heat stress response of Rhododendron hainanense.

Molecular regulatory mechanism of heat stress response (HSR) in Ericaceae remains unknown. Here, we sought to identify HSR mechanisms in Rhododendron hainanense, a Ericaceae species, through a combination of physiological and transcriptomic studies. The levels of MDA, HO, Pro, SOD, CAT and APX in leaves of R.