Analysis of Differentially Expressed miRNAs in Wheat Genotypes Under Dehydration Stress

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in plant growth and development, but little is known of their functions during dehydration stress in wheat as well as how miRNAs confer different levels of dehydration stress tolerance in different wheat.

Tongbao Lin of Henan Agricultural University evaluated miRNA expressions in two different wheat genotypes, the drought-tolerant Hanxuan10, and the drought-susceptible Zhengyin1. The team identified 367 differentially expressed miRNAs and compared their expression levels in the two genotypes.

Of the differentially expressed miRNAs, 13 exhibited opposite patterns of expression. These miRNAs were downregulated in the drought-tolerant cultivar and upregulated in the drought-susceptible cultivar. Researchers also identified 111 miRNAs that were expressed predominantly in only one or the other genotype after dehydration stress.

The results indicate that differentially expressed miRNAs between the two genotypes may play important roles in dehydration stress tolerance in wheat and may be a key in determining the levels of stress tolerance in different wheat genotypes.

 For more information on this study, read the full article here: http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2229/15/21