miR408 overexpression causes increased drought tolerance in chickpea

Identification and Network Construction of mRNAs, miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs in Sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L.) Adventitious Roots Under Salt Stress via Whole-Transcriptome RNA Sequencing

Sweetpotato is the seventh largest crop worldwide, and soil salinization is a major environmental stress limiting its yield. Recent studies have shown that noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) play important regulatory roles in plant responses to abiotic stress. However, ncRNAs in sweetpotato remain largely unexplored. This study analyzed the characteristics of salt-responsive ncRNAs in sweetpotato adventitious roots under salt stress via whole-transcriptome RNA sequencing. The results revealed that 3175 messenger RNAs (mRNAs), 458 microRNAs (miRNAs), 544 long-chain ncRNAs (lncRNAs), and 23 circular RNAs (circRNAs) were differentially expressed. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis revealed that most differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs) and miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) were enriched primarily in phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, starch and sucrose metabolism, the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, plant hormone signal transduction, the mRNA surveillance pathway, and ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis revealed that the majority of DEmRNAs, their target DEmiRNAs, and differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs) were associated with the cell wall, oxidation-reduction, the plasma membrane, protein phosphorylation, metabolic processes, transcription factor activity, and the regulation of transcription. Additionally, based on the competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) hypothesis, we predicted interactions among different RNAs and constructed a salt-responsive ceRNA network comprising 22 DEmiRNAs, 42 DEmRNAs, 27 DElncRNAs, and 10 differentially expressed circRNAs (DEcircRNAs). Some miRNAs, such as miR408, miR169, miR160, miR5139, miR5368, and miR6179, were central to the network, suggesting their crucial roles in the sweetpotato salt response. Our findings provide a foundation for further research into the potential functions of ncRNAs and offer new targets for salt stress resistance improvement through the manipulation of ncRNAs.

Molecular priming with H2O2 and proline triggers antioxidant enzyme signals in maize seedlings during drought stress

BACKGROUND

Drought and water stress impose major limitations to crops, including Maize, as they affect the plant biology at multiple levels. Drought activates the cellular signalling machinery to maintain the osmotic and ROS homeostasis for controlling plant response and adaptation to stress. Molecular priming of seeds plays a significant role in imparting stress tolerance by helping plants to remember the stress, which improves their response when they encounter stress again.

METHODS

In this study, we examined the effect of priming maize seeds with H2O2 and proline, individually or in combination, on response to drought stress. We investigated the role of molecular priming on the physiological, biochemical and molecular response of maize seedlings during drought stress.

RESULTS

We observed that seed-priming played a significant role in mediating stress tolerance of seedlings under drought stress as indicated by changes in growth, biochemical properties, pigment and osmolyte accumulation, antioxidant enzyme activities, gas exchange parameters and gene expression. Seed-priming resulted in reduced expression of specific miRNAs to increase target transcripts associated with synthesis of osmolytes and maintenance of ROS homeostasis for reducing potential damage to the cellular components.

CONCLUSIONS

Seed-priming induced changes in the growth, biochemical properties, pigment and osmolyte accumulation, antioxidant enzyme activities, gas exchange parameters and gene expression, though the response was dependent on the genotype, as well as concentration and combination of the priming agents.

Genome-wide analysis of plant specific YABBY transcription factor gene family in carrot (Dacus carota) and its comparison with Arabidopsis

YABBY gene family is a plant-specific transcription factor with DNA binding domain involved in various functions i.e. regulation of style, length of flowers, and polarity development of lateral organs in flowering plants. Computational methods were utilized to identify members of the YABBY gene family, with Carrot (Daucus carota) 's genome as a foundational reference. The structure of genes, location of the chromosomes, protein motifs and phylogenetic investigation, syntony and transcriptomic analysis, and miRNA targets were analyzed to unmask the hidden structural and functional characteristics YABBY gene family in Carrots. In the following research, it has been concluded that 11 specific YABBY genes irregularly dispersed on all 9 chromosomes and proteins assembled into five subgroups i.e. AtINO, AtCRC, AtYAB5, AtAFO, and AtYAB2, which were created on the well-known classification of Arabidopsis. The wide ranges of YABBY genes in carrots were dispersed due to segmental duplication, which was detected as prevalent when equated to tandem duplication. Transcriptomic analysis showed that one of the DcYABBY genes was highly expressed during anthocyanin pigmentation in carrot taproots. The cis-regulatory elements (CREs) analysis unveiled elements that particularly respond to light, cell cycle regulation, drought induce ability, ABA hormone, seed, and meristem expression. Furthermore, a relative study among Carrot and Arabidopsis genes of the YABBY family indicated 5 sub-families sharing common characteristics. The comprehensive evaluation of YABBY genes in the genome provides a direction for the cloning and understanding of their functional properties in carrots. Our investigations revealed genome-wide distribution and role of YABBY genes in the carrots with best-fit comparison to Arabidopsis thaliana.

Genomics for monitoring and understanding species responses to global climate change

All life forms across the globe are experiencing drastic changes in environmental conditions as a result of global climate change. These environmental changes are happening rapidly, incur substantial socioeconomic costs, pose threats to biodiversity and diminish a species' potential to adapt to future environments. Understanding and monitoring how organisms respond to human-driven climate change is therefore a major priority for the conservation of biodiversity in a rapidly changing environment. Recent developments in genomic, transcriptomic and epigenomic technologies are enabling unprecedented insights into the evolutionary processes and molecular bases of adaptation. This Review summarizes methods that apply and integrate omics tools to experimentally investigate, monitor and predict how species and communities in the wild cope with global climate change, which is by genetically adapting to new environmental conditions, through range shifts or through phenotypic plasticity. We identify advantages and limitations of each method and discuss future research avenues that would improve our understanding of species' evolutionary responses to global climate change, highlighting the need for holistic, multi-omics approaches to ecosystem monitoring during global climate change.

Regulation of endogenous hormone and miRNA in leaves of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) seedlings under drought stress by endogenous nitric oxide

BACKGROUND

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa. L) is one of the best leguminous herbage in China and even in the world, with high nutritional and ecological value. However, one of the drawbacks of alfalfa is its sensitivity to dry conditions, which is a global agricultural problem. The objective of this study was to investigate the regulatory effects of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) on endogenous hormones and related miRNAs in alfalfa seedling leaves under drought stress. The effects of endogenous NO on endogenous hormones such as ABA, GA3, SA, and IAA in alfalfa leaves under drought stress were studied. In addition, high-throughput sequencing technology was used to identify drought-related miRNAs and endogenous NO-responsive miRNAs in alfalfa seedling leaves under drought stress.

RESULT

By measuring the contents of four endogenous hormones in alfalfa leaves, it was found that endogenous NO could regulate plant growth and stress resistance by inducing the metabolism levels of IAA, ABA, GA3, and SA in alfalfa, especially ABA and SA in alfalfa. In addition, small RNA sequencing technology and bioinformatics methods were used to analyze endogenous NO-responsive miRNAs under drought stress. It was found that most miRNAs were enriched in biological pathways and molecular functions related to hormones (ABA, ETH, and JA), phenylpropane metabolism, and plant stress tolerance.

CONCLUSION

In this study, the analysis of endogenous hormone signals and miRNAs in alfalfa leaves under PEG and PEG + cPTIO conditions provided an important basis for endogenous NO to improve the drought resistance of alfalfa at the physiological and molecular levels. It has important scientific value and practical significance for endogenous NO to improve plant drought resistance.

Multi-omics analysis of small RNA, transcriptome, and degradome to identify putative miRNAs linked to MeJA regulated and oridonin biosynthesis in Isodon rubescens

Isodon rubescens has garnered much attention due to its anti-tumor or anti-cancer properties. However, little is known about the molecular mechanism of oridonin biosynthesis leveraging the regulatory network between small RNAs and mRNAs. In this study, the regulatory networks of miRNAs and targets were examined by combining mRNA, miRNA, and degradome. A total of 348 miRNAs, including 287 known miRNAs and 61 novel miRNAs, were identified. Among them, 51 miRNAs were significantly expressed, and 36 miRNAs responded to MeJA. A total of 3066 target genes were associated with 228 miRNAs via degradome sequencing. Multi-omics analysis demonstrated that 27 miRNA-mRNA pairs were speculated to be involved in MeJA regulation, and 36 miRNA-mRNA pairs were hypothesized to be involved in the genotype-dependence of I. rubescens. Furthermore, 151 and 7 miRNA-mRNA modules were likely engaged in oridonin biosynthesis as identified by psRNATarget and degradome sequencing, respectively. Some miRNA-mRNA modules were confirmed via RT-qPCR. Moreover, miRNAs targeting plant hormone signal transduction pathway genes were identified, such as miR156, miR167, miR393, and PC-3p-19822_242. Collectively, our results demonstrate for the first time that miRNAs are identified in I. rubescens, and laid a solid foundation for further research on the molecular mechanism of oridonin biosynthesis mediated by miRNA.

Identification and Validation of the miR156 Family Involved in Drought Responses and Tolerance in Tea Plants (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze)

The microRNA156 (miR156) family, one of the first miRNA families discovered in plants, plays various important roles in plant growth and resistance to various abiotic stresses. Previously, miR156s were shown to respond to drought stress, but miR156s in tea plants (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) have not been comprehensively identified and analyzed. Herein, we identify 47 mature sequences and 28 precursor sequences in tea plants. Our evolutionary analysis and multiple sequence alignment revealed that csn-miR156s were highly conserved during evolution and that the rates of the csn-miR156 members' evolution were different. The precursor sequences formed typical and stable stem-loop structures. The prediction of cis-acting elements in the CsMIR156s promoter region showed that the CsMIR156s had diverse cis-acting elements; of these, 12 CsMIR156s were found to be drought-responsive elements. The results of reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) testing showed that csn-miR156 family members respond to drought and demonstrate different expression patterns under the conditions of drought stress. This suggests that csn-miR156 family members may be significantly involved in the response of tea plants to drought stress. Csn-miR156f-2-5p knockdown significantly reduced the Fv/Fm value and chlorophyll content and led to the accumulation of more-reactive oxygen species and proline compared with the control. The results of target gene prediction showed that csn-miR156f-2-5p targeted SQUAMOSA promoter binding protein-like (SPL) genes. Further analyses showed that CsSPL14 was targeted by csn-miR156f-2-5p, as confirmed through RT-qPCR, 5' RLM-RACE, and antisense oligonucleotide validation. Our results demonstrate that csn-miR156f-2-5p and CsSPL14 are involved in drought response and represent a new strategy for increasing drought tolerance via the breeding of tea plants.

Changes in epigenetic features in legumes under abiotic stresses

Legume crops are rich in nutritional value for human and livestock consumption. With global climate change, developing stress-resilient crops is crucial for ensuring global food security. Because of their nitrogen-fixing ability, legumes are also important for sustainable agriculture. Various abiotic stresses, such as salt, drought, and elevated temperatures, are known to adversely affect legume production. The responses of plants to abiotic stresses involve complicated cellular processes including stress hormone signaling, metabolic adjustments, and transcriptional regulations. Epigenetic mechanisms play a key role in regulating gene expressions at both transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. Increasing evidence suggests the importance of epigenetic regulations of abiotic stress responses in legumes, and recent investigations have extended the scope to the epigenomic level using next-generation sequencing technologies. In this review, the current knowledge on the involvement of epigenetic features, including DNA methylation, histone modification, and noncoding RNAs, in abiotic stress responses in legumes is summarized and discussed. Since most of the available information focuses on a single aspect of these epigenetic features, integrative analyses involving omics data in multiple layers are needed for a better understanding of the dynamic chromatin statuses and their roles in transcriptional regulation. The inheritability of epigenetic modifications should also be assessed in future studies for their applications in improving stress tolerance in legumes through the stable epigenetic optimization of gene expressions.

Drought-Induced miRNA Expression Correlated with Heavy Metal, Phenolic Acid, and Protein and Nitrogen Levels in Five Chickpea Genotypes

Drought is a prime stress, drastically affecting plant growth, development, and yield. Plants have evolved various physiological, molecular, and biochemical mechanisms to cope with drought. Investigating specific biochemical pathways related to drought tolerance mechanisms of plants through biotechnology approaches is one of the quickest and most effective strategies for enhancing crop production. Among them, microRNAs (miRNAs) are the principal post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression in plants during plant growth under biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study, five different chickpea genotypes (İnci, Hasan bey, Arda, Seçkin, and Diyar 95) were grown under normal and drought stress. We recorded the expression levels of microRNAs in these genotypes and found differential expression (miRNA396, miR408, miRNA414, miRNA528, and miRNA1533) under contrasting conditions. Results revealed that miRNA414 and miRNA528 considerably increased in all genotypes under drought stress, and expression levels of miRNA418, miRNA1533, and miRNA396 (except for the Seçkin genotype) were found to be higher under the watered conditions. These genotypes were also investigated for heavy metal, phenolic acid, protein, and nitrogen concentrations under normal and drought stress conditions. The Arda genotype showed a significant increase in nitrogen (5.46%) and protein contents (28.3%), while protein contents were decreased in the Hasan bey and Seçkin genotypes subjected to drought stress. In the case of metals, iron was the most abundant element in all genotypes (İnci = 15.4 ppm, Hasan bey = 29.6 ppm, Seçkin = 37.8 ppm, Arda = 26.3 ppm, and Diyar 95 = 40.8 ppm) under normal conditions. Interestingly, these results were related to miRNA expression in the chickpea genotypes and hint at the regulation of multiple pathways under drought conditions. Overall, the present study will help us to understand the miRNA-mediated regulation of various pathways in chickpea genotypes.

Evaluation of efficacy of non-coding RNA in abiotic stress management of field crops: Current status and future prospective

Abiotic stresses are responsible for the major losses in crop yield all over the world. Stresses generate harmful ROS which can impair cellular processes in plants. Therefore, plants have evolved antioxidant systems in defence against the stress-induced damages. The frequency of occurrence of abiotic stressors has increased several-fold due to the climate change experienced in recent times and projected for the future. This had particularly aggravated the risk of yield losses and threatened global food security. Non-coding RNAs are the part of eukaryotic genome that does not code for any proteins. However, they have been recently found to have a crucial role in the responses of plants to both abiotic and biotic stresses. There are different types of ncRNAs, for example, miRNAs and lncRNAs, which have the potential to regulate the expression of stress-related genes at the levels of transcription, post-transcription, and translation of proteins. The lncRNAs are also able to impart their epigenetic effects on the target genes through the alteration of the status of histone modification and organization of the chromatins. The current review attempts to deliver a comprehensive account of the role of ncRNAs in the regulation of plants' abiotic stress responses through ROS homeostasis. The potential applications ncRNAs in amelioration of abiotic stresses in field crops also have been evaluated.

Development of an Agrobacterium-delivered codon-optimized CRISPR/Cas9 system for chickpea genome editing

Chickpea is considered recalcitrant to in vitro tissue culture amongst all edible legumes. The clustered, regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (CRISPR/Cas9)-based genome editing in chickpea can remove the bottleneck of limited genetic variation in this cash crop, which is rich in nutrients and protein. However, generating stable mutant lines using CRISPR/Cas9 requires efficient and highly reproducible transformation protocols. As an attempt to solve this problem, we developed a modified and optimized protocol for chickpea transformation. This study transformed the single cotyledon half-embryo explants using CaMV35S promoter to drive two marker genes (β-glucuronidase gene; GUS and green fluorescent protein; GFP) through binary vectors pBI101.2 and modified pGWB2, respectively. These vectors were delivered in the explants through three different strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens, viz., GV3101, EHA105, and LBA4404. We found better efficiency with the strain GV3101 (17.56%) compared with two other strains, i.e., 8.54 and 5.43%, respectively. We recorded better regeneration frequencies in plant tissue culture for the constructs GUS and GFP, i.e., 20.54% and 18.09%, respectively. The GV3101 was further used for the transformation of the genome editing construct. For the development of genome-edited plants, we used this modified protocol. We also used a modified binary vector pPZP200 by introducing a CaMV35S-driven chickpea codon-optimized SpCas9 gene. The promoter of the Medicago truncatula U6.1 snRNA gene was used to drive the guide RNA cassettes. This cassette targeted and edited the chickpea phytoene desaturase (CaPDS) gene. A single gRNA was found sufficient to achieve high efficiency (42%) editing with the generation of PDS mutants with albino phenotypes. A simple, rapid, highly reproducible, stable transformation and CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing system for chickpea was established. This study aimed to demonstrate this system's applicability by performing a gene knockout of the chickpea PDS gene using an improved chickpea transformation protocol for the first time.

A Systematic Review on the Continuous Cropping Obstacles and Control Strategies in Medicinal Plants

Continuous cropping (CC) is a common practice in agriculture, and usually causes serious economic losses due to soil degeneration, decreased crop yield and quality, and increased disease incidence, especially in medicinal plants. Continuous cropping obstacles (CCOs) are mainly due to changes in soil microbial communities, nutrient availability, and allelopathic effects. Recently, progressive studies have illustrated the molecular mechanisms of CCOs, and valid strategies to overcome them. Transcriptomic and metabolomics analyses revealed that identified DEGs (differently expressed genes) and metabolites involved in the response to CCOs are involved in various biological processes, including photosynthesis, carbon metabolism, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, and bioactive compounds. Soil improvement is an effective strategy to overcome this problem. Soil amendments can improve the microbial community by increasing the abundance of beneficial microorganisms, soil fertility, and nutrient availability. In this review, we sum up the recent status of the research on CCOs in medicinal plants, the combination of transcriptomic and metabolomics studies, and related control strategies, including uses of soil amendments, crop rotation, and intercropping. Finally, we propose future research trends for understanding CCOs, and strategies to overcome these obstacles and promote sustainable agriculture practices in medicinal plants.

Epigenomics in stress tolerance of plants under the climate change

BACKGROUND

Climate change has had a tremendous impact on the environment in general as well as agricultural crops grown in these situations as time passed. Agricultural production of crops is less suited and of lower quality due to disturbances in plant metabolism brought on by sensitivity to environmental stresses, which are brought on by climate change. Abiotic stressors that are specific to climate change, including as drought, extremes in temperature, increasing CO₂, waterlogging from heavy rain, metal toxicity, and pH changes, are known to negatively affect an array of species. Plants adapt to these challenges by undergoing genome-wide epigenetic changes, which are frequently accompanied by differences in transcriptional gene expression. The sum of a cell's biochemical modifications to its nuclear DNA, post-translational modifications to histones, and variations in the synthesis of non-coding RNAs is called an epigenome. These modifications frequently lead to variations in gene expression that occur without any alteration in the underlying base sequence.

EPIGENETIC MECHANISMS AND MARKS

The methylation of homologous loci by three different modifications-genomic (DNA methylation), chromatin (histone modifications), and RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM)-could be regarded as epigenetic mechanisms that control the regulation of differential gene expression. Stresses from the environment cause chromatin remodelling, which enables plant cells to adjust their expression patterns temporarily or permanently. EPIGENOMICS' CONSEQUENCES FOR GENOME STABILITY AND GENE EXPRESSION: DNA methylation affects gene expression in response to abiotic stressors by blocking or suppressing transcription. Environmental stimuli cause changes in DNA methylation levels, either upward in the case of hypermethylation or downward in the case of hypomethylation. The type of stress response that occurs as a result also affects the degree of DNA methylation alterations. Stress is also influenced by DRM2 and CMT3 methylating CNN, CNG, and CG. Both plant development and stress reactions depend on histone changes. Gene up-regulation is associated with histone tail phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and acetylation, while gene down-regulation is associated with de-acetylation and biotinylation. Plants undergo a variety of dynamic changes to histone tails in response to abiotic stressors. The relevance of these transcripts against stress is highlighted by the accumulation of numerous additional antisense transcripts, a source of siRNAs, caused by abiotic stresses. The study highlights the finding that plants can be protected from a range of abiotic stresses by epigenetic mechanisms such DNA methylation, histone modification, and RNA-directed DNA methylation. TRANSGENERATIONAL INHERITANCE AND SOURCES OF EPIGENETIC VARIATION: Stress results in the formation of epialleles, which are either transient or enduring epigenetic stress memory in plants. After the stress is gone, the stable memory is kept for the duration of the plant's remaining developmental cycles or passed on to the next generations, leading to plant evolution and adaptability. The bulk of epigenetic changes brought on by stress are temporary and return to normal after the stress has passed. Some of the modifications, however, might be long-lasting and transmitted across mitotic or even meiotic cell divisions. Epialleles often have genetic or non-genetic causes. Epialleles can arise spontaneously due to improper methylation state maintenance, short RNA off-target effects, or other non-genetic causes. Developmental or environmental variables that influence the stability of epigenetic states or direct chromatin modifications may also be non-genetic drivers of epigenetic variation. Transposon insertions that change local chromatin and structural rearrangements, such copy number changes that are genetically related or unrelated, are two genetic sources of epialleles.

EPIGENOMICS IN CROP IMPROVEMENT

To include epigenetics into crop breeding, it is necessary to create epigenetic variation as well as to identify and evaluate epialleles. Epigenome editing or epi-genomic selection may be required for epiallele creation and identification. In order to combat the challenges given by changing environments, these epigenetic mechanisms have generated novel epialleles that can be exploited to develop new crop types that are more climate-resilient. Numerous techniques can be used to alter the epigenome generally or at specific target loci in order to induce the epigenetic alterations necessary for crop development. Technologies like CRISPR/Cas9 and dCas, which have recently advanced, have opened up new avenues for the study of epigenetics. Epialleles could be employed in epigenomics-assisted breeding in addition to sequence-based markers for crop breeding.

CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE PROSPECTUS

A few of the exciting questions that still need to be resolved in the area of heritable epigenetic variation include a better understanding of the epigenetic foundation of characteristics, the stability and heritability of epialleles, and the sources of epigenetic variation in crops. Investigating long intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs) as an epigenetic process might open up a new path to understanding crop plant's ability to withstand abiotic stress. For many of these technologies and approaches to be more applicable and deployable at a lower cost, technological breakthroughs will also be necessary. Breeders will probably need to pay closer attention to crop epialleles and how they can affect future responses to climate changes. The development of epialleles suitable for particular environmental circumstances may be made possible by creating targeted epigenetic changes in pertinent genes and by comprehending the molecular underpinnings of trans generational epigenetic inheritance. More research on a wider variety of plant species is required in order to fully comprehend the mechanisms that produce and stabilise epigenetic variation in crops. In addition to a collaborative and multidisciplinary effort by researchers in many fields of plant science, this will require a greater integration of the epigenomic data gathered in many crops. Before it may be applied generally, more study is required.

microRNA408 and its encoded peptide regulate sulfur assimilation and arsenic stress response in Arabidopsis

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that play a central role in regulating various developmental and biological processes. The expression of miRNAs is differentially modulated in response to various biotic and abiotic stresses. Recent findings have shown that some pri-miRNAs encode small regulatory peptides known as microRNA-encoded peptides (miPEPs). miPEPs regulate the growth and development of plants by modulating corresponding miRNA expression; however, the role of these peptides under different stress conditions remains unexplored. Here, we report that pri-miR408 encodes a small peptide, miPEP408, that regulates the expression of miR408, its targets, and associated phenotype in Arabidopsis. We also report that miR408, apart from Plantacyanin (ARPN) and Laccase3 (LAC3), targets a glutathione S-transferase (GSTU25) that plays a role in sulfur assimilation and exhibits a range of detoxification activities with the environmental pollutant. Plants overexpressing miR408 showed severe sensitivity under low sulfur (LS), arsenite As(III), and LS + As(III) stress, while miR408 mutants developed using the CRISPR/Cas9 approach showed tolerance. Transgenic lines showed phenotypic alteration and modulation in the expression of genes involved in the sulfur reduction pathway and affect sulfate and glutathione accumulation. Similar to miR408 overexpressing lines, the exogenous application of synthetic miPEP408 and miPEP408OX lines led to sensitivity in plants under LS, As(III), and combined LS + As(III) stress compared to the control. This study suggests the involvement of miR408 and miPEP408 in heavy metal and nutrient deficiency responses through modulation of the sulfur assimilation pathway.

Delineating the tissue-mediated drought stress governed tuning of conserved miR408 and its targets in rice

Engineering drought tolerance in rice needs to focus on regulators that enhance tolerance while boosting plant growth and vigor. The present study delineated the concealed function and tissue-mediated interplay of the miR408/target module in imparting drought stress tolerance in rice. The plant miR408 family comprises three dominant mature forms (21 nt), including a distinct monocot variant (F-7 with 5' C) and is divided into six groups. miR408 majorly cleaves genes belonging to the blue copper protein in addition to several other species-specific targets in plants. Comparative sequence analysis in 4726 rice accessions identified 22 sequence variants (SNP and InDELs) in its promoter (15) and pre-miR408 region. Haplotype analysis of the sequence variants indicated eight haplotypes (three: Japonica-specific and five: Indica-specific) of the miR408 promoter. In drought-tolerant Nagina 22, miR408 follows flag leaf preferential expression. Under drought conditions, its levels are upregulated in flag leaf and roots which seems to be regulated by a differential fraction of methylated cytosines (mCs) in the precursor region. The active pool of miR408 regulated targets under control and drought conditions is impacted by the tissue type. Comparative expression analysis of the miR408/target module under different sets of conditions features 83 targets exhibiting antagonistic expression in rice, out of which 12 genes, including four PLANTACYANINS (OsUCL6, 7, 9 and 30), PIRIN, OsLPR1, OsCHUP1, OsDOF12, OsBGLU1, glycine-rich cell wall gene, OsDUT, and OsERF7, are among the high confidence targets. Further, overexpression of MIR408 in drought-sensitive rice cultivar (PB1) leads to the massive enhancement of vegetative growth in rice with improved ETR and Y(II) and enhanced dehydration stress tolerance. The above results suggest that miR408 is likely to act as a positive regulator of growth and vigor, as well as dehydration stress, making it a potential candidate for engineering drought tolerance in rice.

Unclasping potentials of genomics and gene editing in chickpea to fight climate change and global hunger threat

Genomics and genome editing promise enormous opportunities for crop improvement and elementary research. Precise modification in the specific targeted location of a genome has profited over the unplanned insertional events which are generally accomplished employing unadventurous means of genetic modifications. The advent of new genome editing procedures viz; zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), homing endonucleases, transcription activator like effector nucleases (TALENs), Base Editors (BEs), and Primer Editors (PEs) enable molecular scientists to modulate gene expressions or create novel genes with high precision and efficiency. However, all these techniques are exorbitant and tedious since their prerequisites are difficult processes that necessitate protein engineering. Contrary to first generation genome modifying methods, CRISPR/Cas9 is simple to construct, and clones can hypothetically target several locations in the genome with different guide RNAs. Following the model of the application in crop with the help of the CRISPR/Cas9 module, various customized Cas9 cassettes have been cast off to advance mark discrimination and diminish random cuts. The present study discusses the progression in genome editing apparatuses, and their applications in chickpea crop development, scientific limitations, and future perspectives for biofortifying cytokinin dehydrogenase, nitrate reductase, superoxide dismutase to induce drought resistance, heat tolerance and higher yield in chickpea to encounter global climate change, hunger and nutritional threats.

Developing drought-smart, ready-to-grow future crops

Breeding crop plants with increased yield potential and improved tolerance to stressful environments is critical for global food security. Drought stress (DS) adversely affects agricultural productivity worldwide and is expected to rise in the coming years. Therefore, it is vital to understand the physiological, biochemical, molecular, and ecological mechanisms associated with DS. This review examines recent advances in plant responses to DS to expand our understanding of DS-associated mechanisms. Suboptimal water sources adversely affect crop growth and yields through physical impairments, physiological disturbances, biochemical modifications, and molecular adjustments. To control the devastating effect of DS in crop plants, it is important to understand its consequences, mechanisms, and the agronomic and genetic basis of DS for sustainable production. In addition to plant responses, we highlight several mitigation options such as omics approaches, transgenics breeding, genome editing, and biochemical to mechanical methods (foliar treatments, seed priming, and conventional agronomic practices). Further, we have also presented the scope of conventional and speed breeding platforms in helping to develop the drought-smart future crops. In short, we recommend incorporating several approaches, such as multi-omics, genome editing, speed breeding, and traditional mechanical strategies, to develop drought-smart cultivars to achieve the 'zero hunger' goal.

Genome-wide identification of germin-like proteins in peanut (Arachis hypogea L.) and expression analysis under different abiotic stresses

Peanut is an important food and feed crop, providing oil and protein nutrients. Germins and germin-like proteins (GLPs) are ubiquitously present in plants playing numerous roles in defense, growth and development, and different signaling pathways. However, the GLP members have not been comprehensively studied in peanut at the genome-wide scale. We carried out a genome-wide identification of the GLP genes in peanut genome. GLP members were identified comprehensively, and gene structure, genomic positions, motifs/domains distribution patterns, and phylogenetic history were studied in detail. Promoter Cis-elements, gene duplication, collinearity, miRNAs, protein-protein interactions, and expression were determined. A total of 84 GLPs (AhGLPs ) were found in the genome of cultivated peanut. These GLP genes were clustered into six groups. Segmental duplication events played a key role in the evolution of AhGLPs, and purifying selection pressure was underlying the duplication process. Most AhGLPs possessed a well-maintained gene structure and motif organization within the same group. The promoter regions of AhGLPs contained several key cis-elements responsive to 'phytohormones', 'growth and development', defense, and 'light induction'. Seven microRNAs (miRNAs) from six families were found targeting 25 AhGLPs. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis showed that AhGLPs are highly enriched in nutrient reservoir activity, aleurone grain, external encapsulating structure, multicellular organismal reproductive process, and response to acid chemicals, indicating their important biological roles. AhGLP14, AhGLP38, AhGLP54, and AhGLP76 were expressed in most tissues, while AhGLP26, AhGLP29, and AhGLP62 showed abundant expression in the pericarp. AhGLP7, AhGLP20, and AhGLP21, etc., showed specifically high expression in embryo, while AhGLP12, AhGLP18, AhGLP40, AhGLP78, and AhGLP82 were highly expressed under different hormones, water, and temperature stress. The qRT-PCR results were in accordance with the transcriptome expression data. In short, these findings provided a foundation for future functional investigations on the AhGLPs for peanut breeding programs.

Genome-Wide Identification of Wheat KNOX Gene Family and Functional Characterization of TaKNOX14-D in Plants

The KNOX genes play important roles in maintaining SAM and regulating the development of plant leaves. However, the TaKNOX genes in wheat are still not well understood, especially their role in abiotic stress. In this study, a total of 36 KNOX genes were identified, and we demonstrated the function of the TaKNOX14-D gene under mechanical injury and cold stress. Thirty-six TaKNOX genes were divided into two groups, and thirty-four TaKNOX genes were predicted to be located in the nucleus by Cell-PLoc. These genes contained five tandem duplications. Fifteen collinear gene pairs were exhibited in wheat and rice, one collinear gene pair was exhibited in wheat and Arabidopsis. The phylogenetic tree and motif analysis suggested that the TaKNOX gene appeared before C3 and C4 diverged. Gene structure showed that the numbers of exons and introns in TaKNOX gene are different. Wheat TaKNOX genes showed different expression patterns during the wheat growth phase, with seven TaKNOX genes being highly expressed in the whole growth period. These seven genes were also highly expressed in most tissues, and also responded to most abiotic stress. Eleven TaKNOX genes were up-regulated in the tillering node during the leaf regeneration period after mechanical damage. When treating the wheat with different hormones, the expression patterns of TaKNOX were changed, and results showed that ABA promoted TaKNOX expression and seven TaKNOX genes were up-regulated under cytokinin and auxin treatment. Overexpression of the TaKNOX14-D gene in Arabidopsis could increase the leaf size, plant height and seed size. This gene overexpression in Arabidopsis also increased the compensatory growth capacity after mechanical damage. Overexpression lines also showed high resistance to cold stress. This study provides a better understanding of the TaKNOX genes.

MdZAT5 regulates drought tolerance via mediating accumulation of drought-responsive miRNAs and mRNAs in apple

Drought limits apple yield and fruit quality. However, the molecular mechanism of apple in response to drought is not well known. Here, we report a Cys2/His2 (C2H2)-type zinc-finger protein, MdZAT5, that positively regulates apple drought tolerance by regulating drought-responsive RNAs and microRNAs (miRNAs). DNA affinity purification and sequencing and yeast-one hybrid analysis identified the binding motifs of MdZAT5, T/ACACT/AC/A/G. Chromatin immunoprecipitation quantitative polymerase chain reaction (ChIP-qPCR) and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) showed that MdZAT5 directly binds to the promoters of the drought-responsive genes including MdRHA2a, MdLEA14, MdTPX1, and MdCAT3, and activates their expression under drought stress. MdZAT5 interacts with and directly targets HYPONASTIC LEAVES1 (MdHYL1). MdZAT5 may facilitate the interaction of MdHYL1 with pri-miRNAs or MdDCL1 by activating MdHYL1 expression, thereby regulating the biogenesis of drought-responsive miRNAs. Genetic dissection showed that MdHYL1 is essential for MdZAT5-mediated drought tolerance and miRNA biogenesis. In addition, ChIP-qPCR and EMSA revealed that MdZAT5 binds directly to the promoters of some MIR genes including Mdm-miR171i and Mdm-miR172c, and modulates their transcription. Taken together, our findings improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of drought response in apple and provide a candidate gene for the breeding of drought-tolerant cultivars.

Plant responses to drought stress: microRNAs in action

Drought is common in most regions of the world, and it has a significant impact on plant growth and development. Plants, on the other hand, have evolved their own defense systems to deal with the extreme weather. The reprogramming of gene expression by microRNAs (miRNAs) is one of these defense mechanisms. miRNAs are short noncoding RNAs that have emerged as key post-transcriptional gene regulators in a variety of species. Drought stress modulates the expression of certain miRNAs that are functionally conserved across plant species. These characteristics imply that miRNA-based genetic changes might improve drought resistance in plants. This study highlights current knowledge of plant miRNA biogenesis, regulatory mechanisms and their role in drought stress responses. miRNAs functions and their adaptations by plants during drought stress has also been explained that can be exploited to promote drought-resistance among economically important crops.

Gma-miR408 Enhances Soybean Cyst Nematode Susceptibility by Suppressing Reactive Oxygen Species Accumulation

Soybean cyst nematode (SCN, Heterodera glycine) is a serious damaging disease in soybean worldwide, thus resulting in severe yield losses. MicroRNA408 (miR408) is an ancient and highly conserved miRNA involved in regulating plant growth, development, biotic and abiotic stress response. Here, we analyzed the evolution of miR408 in plants and verified four miR408 members in Glycine max. In the current research, highly upregulated gma-miR408 expressing was detected during nematode migration and syncytium formation response to soybean cyst nematode infection. Overexpressing and silencing miR408 vectors were transformed to soybean to confirm its potential role in plant and nematode interaction. Significant variations were observed in the MAPK signaling pathway with low OXI1, PR1, and wounding of the overexpressing lines. Overexpressing miR408 could negatively regulate soybean resistance to SCN by suppressing reactive oxygen species accumulation. Conversely, silencing miR408 positively regulates soybean resistance to SCN. Overall, gma-miR408 enhances soybean cyst nematode susceptibility by suppressing reactive oxygen species accumulation.

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Biology and Biotechnology: From Domestication to Biofortification and Biopharming

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), the world's second most consumed legume crop, is cultivated in more than 50 countries around the world. It is a boon for diabetics and is an excellent source of important nutrients such as vitamins A, C, E, K, B1-B3, B5, B6, B9 and minerals (Fe, Zn, Mg and Ca) which all have beneficial effects on human health. By 2050, the world population can cross 9 billion, and in order to feed the teaming millions, chickpea production should also be increased, as it is a healthy alternative to wheat flour and a boon for diabetics. Moreover, it is an important legume that is crucial for food, nutrition, and health security and the livelihood of the small-scale farmers with poor resources, in developing countries. Although marvelous improvement has been made in the development of biotic and abiotic stress-resistant varieties, still there are many lacunae, and to fulfill that, the incorporation of genomic technologies in chickpea breeding (genomics-assisted breeding, high-throughput and precise-phenotyping and implementation of novel breeding strategies) will facilitate the researchers in developing high yielding, climate resilient, water use efficient, salt-tolerant, insect/pathogen resistant varieties, acceptable to farmers, consumers, and industries. This review focuses on the origin and distribution, nutritional profile, genomic studies, and recent updates on crop improvement strategies for combating abiotic and biotic stresses in chickpea.

Epigenetic variation: A major player in facilitating plant fitness under changing environmental conditions

Recent research in plant epigenetics has increased our understanding of how epigenetic variability can contribute to adaptive phenotypic plasticity in natural populations. Studies show that environmental changes induce epigenetic switches either independently or in complementation with the genetic variation. Although most of the induced epigenetic variability gets reset between generations and is short-lived, some variation becomes transgenerational and results in heritable phenotypic traits. The short-term epigenetic responses provide the first tier of transient plasticity required for local adaptations while transgenerational epigenetic changes contribute to stress memory and help the plants respond better to recurring or long-term stresses. These transgenerational epigenetic variations translate into an additional tier of diversity which results in stable epialleles. In recent years, studies have been conducted on epigenetic variation in natural populations related to various biological processes, ecological factors, communities, and habitats. With the advent of advanced NGS-based technologies, epigenetic studies targeting plants in diverse environments have increased manifold to enhance our understanding of epigenetic responses to environmental stimuli in facilitating plant fitness. Taking all points together in a frame, the present review is a compilation of present-day knowledge and understanding of the role of epigenetics and its fitness benefits in diverse ecological systems in natural populations.

Screening of differentially expressed microRNAs and target genes in two potato varieties under nitrogen stress

BACKGROUND

A reasonable supply of nitrogen (N) fertilizer is essential for obtaining high-quality, high-level, and stable potato yields, and an improvement in the N utilization efficiency can effectively reduce N fertilizer use. It is important to use accurate, straightforward, and efficient transgenic breeding techniques for the identification of genes that can improve nitrogen use efficiency, thus enabling us to achieve the ultimate goal of breeding N-efficient potato varieties. In recent years, some of the mechanisms of miRNAs have been elucidated via the analysis of the correlation between the expression levels of potato miRNA target genes and regulated genes under conditions of stress, but the role of miRNAs in the inhibition/expression of key genes regulating N metabolism under N stress is still unclear. Our study aimed to identify the role played by specific enzymes and miRNAs in the responses of plants to N stress.

RESULTS

The roots and leaves of the N-efficient potato variety, Yanshu4 ("Y"), and N-inefficient potato variety, Atlantic ("D"), were collected at the seedling and budding stages after they were exposed to different N fertilizer treatments. The miRNAs expressed differentially under the two types of N stress and their corresponding target genes were first predicted using miRNA and degradome analysis. Then, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed to verify the expression of differential miRNAs that were closely related to N metabolism. Finally, the shearing relationship between stu-miR396-5p and its target gene StNiR was determined by analyzing luciferase activity levels. The results showed that NiR activity increased significantly with an increase in the applied N levels from the seedling stage to the budding stage, and NiR responded significantly to different N treatments. miRNA sequencing enabled us to predict 48 families with conserved miRNAs that were mainly involved in N metabolism, carbon metabolism, and amino acid biosynthesis. The differences in the expression of the following miRNAs were identified via screening (high expression levels and P < 0.05): stu-miR396-5p, stu-miR408b-3p_R-1, stu-miR3627-3p, stu-miR482a-3p, stu-miR8036-3p, stu-miR482a-5p, stu-miR827-5p, stu-miR156a_L-1, stu-miR827-3p, stu-miR172b-5p, stu-miR6022-p3_7, stu-miR398a-5p, and stu-miR166c-5p_L-3. Degradome analysis showed that most miRNAs had many-to-many relationships with target genes. The main target genes involved in N metabolism were NiR, NiR1, NRT2.5, and NRT2.7. qRT-PCR analysis showed that there were significant differences in the expression levels of stu-miR396-5p, stu-miR8036-3p, and stu-miR482a-3p in the leaves and roots of the Yanshu4 and Atlantic varieties at the seedling and budding stages under conditions that involved no N and excessive N application; the expression of these miRNAs was induced in response to N stress. The correlation between the differential expression of stu-miR396-5p and its corresponding target gene NiR was further verified by determining the luciferase activity level and was found to be strongly negative.

CONCLUSION

The activity of NiR was significantly positively correlated with N application from the seedling to the budding stage. Differential miRNAs and target genes showed a many-to-many relationship with each other. The expression of stu-miR396-5p, stu-miR482a-3p, and stu-miR8036-3p in the roots and leaves of the Yanshu4 and Atlantic varieties at the seedling and budding stages was notably different under two types of N stress. Under two types of N stress, stu-miR396-5p was down-regulated in Yanshu4 in the seedling-stage and shoot-stage roots, and up-regulated in seedling-stage roots and shoot-stage leaves; stu-miR482a-3p was up-regulated in the seedling and shoot stages. The expression of stu-miR8036-3p was up-regulated in the leaves and roots at the seedling and budding stages, and down-regulated in roots under both types of N stress. The gene expressing the key enzyme involved in N metabolism, StNiR, and the stu-miR396-5p luciferase assay reporter gene had a strong regulatory relationship with each other. This study provides candidate miRNAs related to nitrogen metabolism and highlights that differential miRNAs play a key role in nitrogen stress in potato, providing insights for future research on miRNAs and their target genes in nitrogen metabolic pathways and breeding nitrogen-efficient potatoes.

Integration of mRNA and miRNA analysis reveals the differentially regulatory network in two different Camellia oleifera cultivars under drought stress

Camellia oleifera Abel. (C. oleifera) is an edible oil tree species that provide an important guarantee for targeted poverty alleviation strategy in China. Severe difficulties in irrigation leading to drought stress have become a major obstacle to the development of the C. oleifera planting industry. Breeding of drought-tolerant cultivars is the main idea for solving the problem of water shortage stress in C. oleifera cultivation. The photosynthetic physiology traits of C. oleifera cultivars 'Xianglin No.1' and 'Hengdong No.2' were affected by drought stress to different degrees, which demonstrated that the two cultivars suffered different degrees of damage. In the present study, we applied mRNA-seq and miRNA-seq to analyze the difference in molecular responses between drought stress and control, drought-tolerant and -sensitive cultivars, at mRNA and miRNA levels. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in photosynthesis-related, porphyrin, and chlorophyll metabolism, circadian rhythm system, and plant hormone signal transduction pathways were identified that might be candidates for drought stress tolerance genes. Subsequently, the miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks connected the differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) to their predicted target genes were established. miR398 and miR408-3p in C. oleifera showed that associated with the response to drought stress by negatively regulating genes encoding Downy Mildew Resistance 6 (DMR6) and Enhanced Disease Resistance 2 (EDR2), respectively, which might further improve drought tolerance via crosstalk between different stress-responsive pathways. The quantitation results of miRNA and mRNA were validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). In summary, the integrated mRNA-seq and miRNA-seq analysis deepen our understanding of the regulatory network response to drought stress and variety-specific responses improving drought tolerance in C. oleifera.

MicroRNAs Mediated Plant Responses to Salt Stress

One of the most damaging issues to cultivatable land is soil salinity. While salt stress influences plant growth and yields at low to moderate levels, severe salt stress is harmful to plant growth. Mineral shortages and toxicities frequently exacerbate the problem of salinity. The growth of many plants is quantitatively reduced by various levels of salt stress depending on the stage of development and duration of stress. Plants have developed various mechanisms to withstand salt stress. One of the key strategies is the utilization of microRNAs (miRNAs) that can influence gene regulation at the post-transcriptional stage under different environmental conditions, including salinity. Here, we have reviewed the miRNA-mediated adaptations of various plant species to salt stress and other abiotic variables. Moreover, salt responsive (SR)-miRNAs, their targets, and corresponding pathways have also been discussed. The review article concludes by suggesting that the utilization of miRNAs may be a vital strategy to generate salt tolerant crops ensuring food security in the future.

Application of RNAi technology: a novel approach to navigate abiotic stresses

BACKGROUND

Due to the rising population globally, and the demand for food, it is critical to significantly increase crop production by 2050. However, climate change estimates show that droughts and heatwaves will become more prevalent in many parts of the world, posing a severe danger to food output.

METHODS

Selective breeding based on genetic diversity is falling short of meeting the expanding need for food and feed. However, the advent of modern plant genetic engineering, genome editing, and synthetic biology provides precise techniques for producing crops capable of sustaining yield under stress situations.

RESULTS

As a result, crop varieties with built-in genetic tolerance to environmental challenges are desperately needed. In the recent years, small RNA (sRNA) data has progressed to become one of the most effective approaches for the improvement of crops. So many sRNAs (18-30nt) have been found with the use of hi-tech bioinformatics and sequencing techniques which are involved in the regulation of sequence specific gene noncoding RNAs (short ncRNAs) i.e., microRNA (miRNA) and small interfering RNA (siRNA). Such research outcomes may advance our understanding of the genetic basis of adaptability of plants to various environmental challenges and the genetic variation of plant's tolerance to a number of abiotic stresses.

CONCLUSION

The review article highlights current trends and advances in sRNAs' critical role in responses of plants to drought, heat, cold, and salinity, and also the potential technology that identifies the abiotic stress-regulated sRNAs, and techniques for analyzing and validating the target genes.

Integrated analysis of small RNAs, transcriptome and degradome sequencing reveal the drought stress network in Agropyron mongolicum Keng

Agropyron mongolicum (A. mongolicum) is an excellent gramineous forage with extreme drought tolerance, which lives in arid and semiarid desert areas. However, the mechanism that underlies the response of microRNAs (miRNAs) and their targets in A. mongolicum to drought stress is not well understood. In this study, we analyzed the transcriptome, small RNAome (specifically the miRNAome) and degradome to generate a comprehensive resource that focused on identifying key regulatory miRNA-target circuits under drought stress. The most extended transcript in each collection is known as the UniGene, and a total of 41,792 UniGenes and 1,104 miRNAs were identified, and 99 differentially expressed miRNAs negatively regulated 1,474 differentially expressed target genes. Among them, eight miRNAs were unique to A. mongolicum, and there were 36 target genes. A weighted gene co-expression network analysis identified five hub genes. The miRNAs of five hub genes were screened with an integration analysis of the degradome and sRNAs, such as osa-miR444a-3p.2-MADS47, bdi-miR408-5p_1ss19TA-CCX1, tae-miR9774_L-2R-1_1ss11GT-carC, ata-miR169a-3p-PAO2, and bdi-miR528-p3_2ss15TG20CA-HOX24. The functional annotations revealed that they were involved in mediating the brassinosteroid signal pathway, transporting and exchanging sodium and potassium ions and regulating the oxidation-reduction process, hydrolase activity, plant response to water deprivation, abscisic acid (ABA) and the ABA-activated signaling pathway to regulate drought stress. Five hub genes were discovered, which could play central roles in the regulation of drought-responsive genes. These results show that the combined analysis of miRNA, the transcriptome and degradation group provides a useful platform to investigate the molecular mechanism of drought resistance in A. mongolicum and could provide new insights into the genetic engineering of Poaceae crops in the future.

Exploring Chickpea Germplasm Diversity for Broadening the Genetic Base Utilizing Genomic Resourses

Legume crops provide significant nutrition to humans as a source of protein, omega-3 fatty acids as well as specific macro and micronutrients. Additionally, legumes improve the cropping environment by replenishing the soil nitrogen content. Chickpeas are the second most significant staple legume food crop worldwide behind dry bean which contains 17%–24% protein, 41%–51% carbohydrate, and other important essential minerals, vitamins, dietary fiber, folate, β-carotene, anti-oxidants, micronutrients (phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, iron, and zinc) as well as linoleic and oleic unsaturated fatty acids. Despite these advantages, legumes are far behind cereals in terms of genetic improvement mainly due to far less effort, the bottlenecks of the narrow genetic base, and several biotic and abiotic factors in the scenario of changing climatic conditions. Measures are now called for beyond conventional breeding practices to strategically broadening of narrow genetic base utilizing chickpea wild relatives and improvement of cultivars through advanced breeding approaches with a focus on high yield productivity, biotic and abiotic stresses including climate resilience, and enhanced nutritional values. Desirable donors having such multiple traits have been identified using core and mini core collections from the cultivated gene pool and wild relatives of Chickpea. Several methods have been developed to address cross-species fertilization obstacles and to aid in inter-specific hybridization and introgression of the target gene sequences from wild Cicer species. Additionally, recent advances in “Omics” sciences along with high-throughput and precise phenotyping tools have made it easier to identify genes that regulate traits of interest. Next-generation sequencing technologies, whole-genome sequencing, transcriptomics, and differential genes expression profiling along with a plethora of novel techniques like single nucleotide polymorphism exploiting high-density genotyping by sequencing assays, simple sequence repeat markers, diversity array technology platform, and whole-genome re-sequencing technique led to the identification and development of QTLs and high-density trait mapping of the global chickpea germplasm. These altogether have helped in broadening the narrow genetic base of chickpeas.

MicroRNAs expression profiles in early responses to different levels of water deficit in Setaria viridis

Water deficit is a major constraint for crops of economic importance in almost all agricultural regions. However, plants have an active defense system to adapt to these adverse conditions, acting in the reprogramming of gene expression responsible for encoding microRNAs (miRNAs). These miRNAs promote the regulation to the target gene expression by the post-transcriptional (PTGS) and transcriptional gene silencing (TGS), modulating several pathways including defense response to water deficit. The broader knowledge of the miRNA expression profile and its regulatory networks in response to water deficit can provide evidence for the development of new biotechnological tools for genetic improvement of several important crops. In this study, we used Setaria viridis accession A10.1 as a C4 model plant to widely investigate the miRNA expression profile in early responses to different levels of water deficit. Ecophysiological studies in Setaria viridis under water deficit and after rewatering demonstrated a drought tolerant accession, capable of a rapid recovery from the stress. Deep small RNA sequencing and degradome studies were performed in plants submitted to drought to identify differentially expressed miRNA genes and their predicted targets, using in silico analysis. Our findings showed that several miRNAs were differentially modulated in response to distinctive levels of water deficit and after rewatering. The predicted mRNA targets mainly corresponded to genes related to cell wall remodeling, antioxidant system and drought-related transcription factors, indicating that these genes are rapidly regulated in early responses to drought stress. The implications of these modulations are extensively discussed, and higher-effect miRNAs are suggested as major players for potential use in genetic engineering to improve drought tolerance in economically important crops, such as sugarcane, maize, and sorghum.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-022-01226-z.

Epigenomics as Potential Tools for Enhancing Magnitude of Breeding Approaches for Developing Climate Resilient Chickpea

Epigenomics has become a significant research interest at a time when rapid environmental changes are occurring. Epigenetic mechanisms mainly result from systems like DNA methylation, histone modification, and RNA interference. Epigenetic mechanisms are gaining importance in classical genetics, developmental biology, molecular biology, cancer biology, epidemiology, and evolution. Epigenetic mechanisms play important role in the action and interaction of plant genes during development, and also have an impact on classical plant breeding programs, inclusive of novel variation, single plant heritability, hybrid vigor, plant-environment interactions, stress tolerance, and performance stability. The epigenetics and epigenomics may be significant for crop adaptability and pliability to ambient alterations, directing to the creation of stout climate-resilient elegant crop cultivars. In this review, we have summarized recent progress made in understanding the epigenetic mechanisms in plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses and have also tried to provide the ways for the efficient utilization of epigenomic mechanisms in developing climate-resilient crop cultivars, especially in chickpea, and other legume crops.

Small RNA Sequencing Revealed that miR4415, a Legume-Specific miRNA, was Involved in the Cold Acclimation of Ammopiptanthus nanus by Targeting an L-Ascorbate Oxidase Gene and Regulating the Redox State of Apoplast

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous single-stranded RNAs that regulate plant growth, development, and environmental stress response posttranscriptionally. Ammopiptanthus nanus, a rare evergreen broad-leaved shrub in the temperate area of Central Asia, can tolerate freezing stress as low as -30 degrees centigrade in winter, and miRNA might be involved in the cold acclimation which enables A. nanus to obtain tolerance to freezing stress. Systematic identification and functional analysis of the miRNAs involved in the cold acclimation in A. nanus may promote understanding of the miRNA-mediated gene regulation network underlying cold acclimation. Here, based on small RNA and degradome sequencing, 256 miRNAs and 1,808 miRNA-target pairs were identified in A. nanus. A total of 39 cold-responsive miRNAs were identified, of which 29 were upregulated and ten were downregulated. These cold-responsive miRNAs may participate in the cold acclimation by regulating redox homeostasis (miR398, miR4415, and miR408), calcium signaling (miR5225 and miR5211), growth and development (miR159 and miR390), and small RNA-mediated gene silencing (miR168 and miR1515). We found that miR4415, a legume-specific miRNA, is involved in the cold acclimation of A. nanus by targeting an L-ascorbate oxidase gene and then regulating the redox state of the apoplast. Our study provides important data for understanding the regulatory role of miRNA in the cold acclimation of A. nanus.

Nanomaterials coupled with microRNAs for alleviating plant stress: a new opening towards sustainable agriculture

Plant growth and development is influenced by their continuous interaction with the environment. Their cellular machinery is geared to make rapid changes for adjusting the morphology and physiology to withstand the stressful changes in their surroundings. The present scenario of climate change has however intensified the occurrence and duration of stress and this is getting reflected in terms of yield loss. A number of breeding and molecular strategies are being adopted to enhance the performance of plants under abiotic stress conditions. In this context, the use of nanomaterials is gaining momentum. Nanotechnology is a versatile field and its application has been demonstrated in almost all the existing fields of science. In the agriculture sector, the use of nanoparticles is still limited, even though it has been found to increase germination and growth, enhance physiological and biochemical activities and impact gene expression. In this review, we have summarized the use and role of nanomaterial and small non-coding RNAs in crop improvement while highlighting the potential of nanomaterial assisted eco-friendly delivery of small non-coding RNAs as an innovative strategy for mitigating the effect of abiotic stress.

Integrated Analysis of Physiological, mRNA Sequencing, and miRNA Sequencing Data Reveals a Specific Mechanism for the Response to Continuous Cropping Obstacles in Pogostemon cablin Roots

Pogostemon cablin (patchouli) is a commercially important medicinal and industrial crop grown worldwide for its medicinal and aromatic properties. Patchoulol and pogostone, derived from the essential oil of patchouli, are considered valuable components in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Due to its high application value in the clinic and industry, the demand for patchouli is constantly growing. Unfortunately, patchouli cultivation has suffered due to severe continuous cropping obstacles, resulting in a significant decline in yield and quality. Moreover, the physiological and transcriptional changes in patchouli in response to continuous cropping obstacles remain unclear. This has greatly restricted the development of the patchouli industry. To explore the mechanism underlying the rapid response of patchouli roots to continuous cropping stress, integrated analysis of the transcriptome and miRNA profiles of patchouli roots under continuous and noncontinuous cropping conditions in different growth periods was conducted using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and miRNA-seq and complemented with physiological data. The physiological and biochemical results showed that continuous cropping significantly inhibited root growth, decreased root activity, and increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase) and the levels of osmoregulators (malondialdehyde, soluble protein, soluble sugar, and proline). Subsequently, we found 4,238, 3,494, and 7,290 upregulated and 4,176, 3,202, and 8,599 downregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the three growth periods of continuously cropped patchouli, many of which were associated with primary carbon and nitrogen metabolism, defense responses, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, and transcription factors. Based on miRNA-seq, 927 known miRNAs and 130 novel miRNAs were identified, among which 67 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMIs) belonging to 24 miRNA families were induced or repressed by continuous cropping. By combining transcriptome and miRNA profiling, we obtained 47 miRNA-target gene pairs, consisting of 18 DEMIs and 43 DEGs, that likely play important roles in the continuous cropping response of patchouli. The information provided in this study will contribute to clarifying the intricate mechanism underlying the patchouli response to continuous cropping obstacles. In addition, the candidate miRNAs and genes can provide a new strategy for breeding continuous cropping-tolerant patchouli.

The positive feedback regulatory loop of miR160-Auxin Response Factor 17-HYPONASTIC LEAVES 1 mediates drought tolerance in apple trees

Drought stress tolerance is a complex trait regulated by multiple factors. Here, we demonstrate that the miRNA160-Auxin Response Factor 17 (ARF17)-HYPONASTIC LEAVES 1 module is crucial for apple (Malus domestica) drought tolerance. Using stable transgenic plants, we found that drought tolerance was improved by higher levels of Mdm-miR160 or MdHYL1 and by decreased levels of MdARF17, whereas reductions in MdHYL1 or increases in MdARF17 led to greater drought sensitivity. Further study revealed that modulation of drought tolerance was achieved through regulation of drought-responsive miRNA levels by MdARF17 and MdHYL1; MdARF17 interacted with MdHYL1 and bound to the promoter of MdHYL1. Genetic analysis further suggested that MdHYL1 is a direct downstream target of MdARF17. Importantly, MdARF17 and MdHYL1 regulated the abundance of Mdm-miR160. In addition, the Mdm-miR160-MdARF17-MdHYL1 module regulated adventitious root development. We also found that Mdm-miR160 can move from the scion to the rootstock in apple and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), thereby improving root development and drought tolerance of the rootstock. Our study revealed the mechanisms by which the positive feedback loop of Mdm-miR160-MdARF17-MdHYL1 influences apple drought tolerance.

The Evolution and Functional Roles of miR408 and Its Targets in Plants

MicroRNA408 (miR408) is an ancient and highly conserved miRNA, which is involved in the regulation of plant growth, development and stress response. However, previous research results on the evolution and functional roles of miR408 and its targets are relatively scattered, and there is a lack of a systematic comparison and comprehensive summary of the detailed evolutionary pathways and regulatory mechanisms of miR408 and its targets in plants. Here, we analyzed the evolutionary pathway of miR408 in plants, and summarized the functions of miR408 and its targets in regulating plant growth and development and plant responses to various abiotic and biotic stresses. The evolutionary analysis shows that miR408 is an ancient and highly conserved microRNA, which is widely distributed in different plants. miR408 regulates the growth and development of different plants by down-regulating its targets, encoding blue copper (Cu) proteins, and by transporting Cu to plastocyanin (PC), which affects photosynthesis and ultimately promotes grain yield. In addition, miR408 improves tolerance to stress by down-regulating target genes and enhancing cellular antioxidants, thereby increasing the antioxidant capacity of plants. This review expands and promotes an in-depth understanding of the evolutionary and regulatory roles of miR408 and its targets in plants.

Integrative small RNA and transcriptome analysis provides insight into key role of miR408 towards drought tolerance response in cowpea

Drought stress response studies and overexpression of vun-miR408 proved it to be essential for abiotic stress tolerance in cowpea. Small RNA and transcriptome sequencing of an elite high-yielding drought-tolerant Indian cowpea cultivar, Pusa Komal revealed a differential expression of 198 highly conserved, 21 legume-specific, 14 less-conserved, and 10 novel drought-responsive microRNAs (miRNAs) along with 3391 (up-regulated) and 3799 (down-regulated) genes, respectively, in the leaf and root libraries. Among the differentially expressed miRNAs, vun-miR408-3p, showed an up-regulation of 3.53-log₂-fold change under drought stress. Furthermore, laccase 12 (LAC 12) was identified as the potential target of vun-miR408-3p using 5' RNA ligase-mediated rapid amplification of cDNA ends. The stable transgenic cowpea lines overexpressing artificial vun-miR408-3p (OX-amiR408) displayed enhanced drought and salinity tolerance as compared to the wild-type plants. An average increase of 30.17% in chlorophyll, 26.57% in proline, and 27.62% in relative water content along with lesser cellular H₂O₂ level was observed in the transgenic lines in comparison with the wild-type plants under drought stress. Additionally, the scanning electron microscopic study revealed a decrease in the stomatal aperture and an increase in the trichome density in the transgenic lines. The expression levels of laccase 3 and laccase 12, the potential targets of miR408, related to lipid catabolic processes showed a significant reduction in the wild-type plants under drought stress and the transgenic lines, indicating the regulation of lignin content as a plausibly essential trait related to the drought tolerance in cowpea. Taken together, this study primarily focused on identification of drought-responsive miRNAs and genes in cowpea, and functional validation of role of miR408 towards drought stress response in cowpea.

Genomics Associated Interventions for Heat Stress Tolerance in Cool Season Adapted Grain Legumes

Cool season grain legumes occupy an important place among the agricultural crops and essentially provide multiple benefits including food supply, nutrition security, soil fertility improvement and revenue for farmers all over the world. However, owing to climate change, the average temperature is steadily rising, which negatively affects crop performance and limits their yield. Terminal heat stress that mainly occurred during grain development phases severely harms grain quality and weight in legumes adapted to the cool season, such as lentils, faba beans, chickpeas, field peas, etc. Although, traditional breeding approaches with advanced screening procedures have been employed to identify heat tolerant legume cultivars. Unfortunately, traditional breeding pipelines alone are no longer enough to meet global demands. Genomics-assisted interventions including new-generation sequencing technologies and genotyping platforms have facilitated the development of high-resolution molecular maps, QTL/gene discovery and marker-assisted introgression, thereby improving the efficiency in legumes breeding to develop stress-resilient varieties. Based on the current scenario, we attempted to review the intervention of genomics to decipher different components of tolerance to heat stress and future possibilities of using newly developed genomics-based interventions in cool season adapted grain legumes.

MicroRNA-mediated bioengineering for climate-resilience in crops

Global projections on the climate change and the dynamic environmental perturbations indicate severe impacts on food security in general, and crop yield, vigor and the quality of produce in particular. Sessile plants respond to environmental challenges such as salt, drought, temperature, heavy metals at transcriptional and/or post-transcriptional levels through the stress-regulated network of pathways including transcription factors, proteins and the small non-coding endogenous RNAs. Amongs these, the miRNAs have gained unprecedented attention in recent years as key regulators for modulating gene expression in plants under stress. Hence, tailoring of miRNAs and their target pathways presents a promising strategy for developing multiple stress-tolerant crops. Plant stress tolerance has been successfully achieved through the over expression of microRNAs such as Os-miR408, Hv-miR82 for drought tolerance; OsmiR535A and artificial DST miRNA for salinity tolerance; and OsmiR535 and miR156 for combined drought and salt stress. Examples of miR408 overexpression also showed improved efficiency of irradiation utilization and carbon dioxide fixation in crop plants. Through this review, we present the current understanding about plant miRNAs, their roles in plant growth and stress-responses, the modern toolbox for identification, characterization and validation of miRNAs and their target genes including in silico tools, machine learning and artificial intelligence. Various approaches for up-regulation or knock-out of miRNAs have been discussed. The main emphasis has been given to the exploration of miRNAs for development of bioengineered climate-smart crops that can withstand changing climates and stressful environments, including combination of stresses, with very less or no yield penalties.

Integrative genome, transcriptome, microRNA, and degradome analysis of water dropwort (Oenanthe javanica) in response to water stress

Water dropwort (Liyang Baiqin, Oenanthe javanica (BI.) DC.) is an aquatic perennial plant from the Apiaceae family with abundant protein, dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It usually grows in wet soils and can even grow in water. Here, whole-genome sequencing of O. javanica via HiSeq 2000 sequencing technology was reported for the first time. The genome size was 1.28 Gb, including 42,270 genes, of which 93.92% could be functionally annotated. An online database of the whole-genome sequences of water dropwort, Water dropwortDB, was established to share the results and facilitate further research on O. javanica (database homepage: http://apiaceae.njau.edu.cn/waterdropwortdb ). Water dropwortDB offers whole-genome and transcriptome sequences and a Basic Local Alignment Search Tool. Comparative analysis with other species showed that the evolutionary relationship between O. javanica and Daucus carota was the closest. Twenty-five gene families of O. javanica were found to be expanded, and some genetic factors (such as genes and miRNAs) related to phenotypic and anatomic differentiation in O. javanica under different water conditions were further investigated. Two miRNA and target gene pairs (miR408 and Oja15472, miR171 and Oja47040) were remarkably regulated by water stress. The obtained reference genome of O. javanica provides important information for future work, thus making in-depth genetic breeding and gene editing possible. The present study also provides a foundation for the understanding of the O. javanica response to water stress, including morphological, anatomical, and genetic differentiation.

Non-Coding RNAs in Response to Drought Stress

Drought stress causes changes in the morphological, physiological, biochemical and molecular characteristics of plants. The response to drought in different plants may vary from avoidance, tolerance and escape to recovery from stress. This response is genetically programmed and regulated in a very complex yet synchronized manner. The crucial genetic regulations mediated by non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have emerged as game-changers in modulating the plant responses to drought and other abiotic stresses. The ncRNAs interact with their targets to form potentially subtle regulatory networks that control multiple genes to determine the overall response of plants. Many long and small drought-responsive ncRNAs have been identified and characterized in different plant varieties. The miRNA-based research is better documented, while lncRNA and transposon-derived RNAs are relatively new, and their cellular role is beginning to be understood. In this review, we have compiled the information on the categorization of non-coding RNAs based on their biogenesis and function. We also discuss the available literature on the role of long and small non-coding RNAs in mitigating drought stress in plants.

Genetic transformation of legumes: an update

This review summarizes the recent advances in legume genetic transformation and provides an insight into the critical factors that play a major role in the process. It also sheds light on some of the potential areas which may ameliorate the transformation of legumes. Legumes are an important group of dicotyledonous plants, highly enriched in proteins and minerals. Majority of the legume plants are cultivated in the arid and semi-arid parts of the world, and hence said to be climate resilient. They have the capability of atmospheric nitrogen fixation and thus play a vital role in the ecological sphere. However, the worldwide production of legumes is somehow not up to the mark and the yields are greatly affected by various biotic and abiotic stress factors. Genetic engineering strategies have emerged as a core of plant biology and remarkably facilitate the crop improvement programmes. A significant progress has been made towards the optimization of efficient transformation system for legume plants over the years but this group is still underutilized in comparison to other crops. Among the variety of available DNA delivery systems, Agrobacterium-mediated and particle bombardment have been primarily deployed for optimization and trait improvement. However, recalcitrance and genotype-dependence are some of the major bottlenecks for successful transformation. In this context, the present review summarizes the advances taken place in the area of legume transformation and provides an insight into the present scenario. The challenges and future possibilities for yield improvement have also been discussed.

Fab Advances in Fabaceae for Abiotic Stress Resilience: From 'Omics' to Artificial Intelligence

Legumes are a better source of proteins and are richer in diverse micronutrients over the nutritional profile of widely consumed cereals. However, when exposed to a diverse range of abiotic stresses, their overall productivity and quality are hugely impacted. Our limited understanding of genetic determinants and novel variants associated with the abiotic stress response in food legume crops restricts its amelioration. Therefore, it is imperative to understand different molecular approaches in food legume crops that can be utilized in crop improvement programs to minimize the economic loss. 'Omics'-based molecular breeding provides better opportunities over conventional breeding for diversifying the natural germplasm together with improving yield and quality parameters. Due to molecular advancements, the technique is now equipped with novel 'omics' approaches such as ionomics, epigenomics, fluxomics, RNomics, glycomics, glycoproteomics, phosphoproteomics, lipidomics, regulomics, and secretomics. Pan-omics-which utilizes the molecular bases of the stress response to identify genes (genomics), mRNAs (transcriptomics), proteins (proteomics), and biomolecules (metabolomics) associated with stress regulation-has been widely used for abiotic stress amelioration in food legume crops. Integration of pan-omics with novel omics approaches will fast-track legume breeding programs. Moreover, artificial intelligence (AI)-based algorithms can be utilized for simulating crop yield under changing environments, which can help in predicting the genetic gain beforehand. Application of machine learning (ML) in quantitative trait loci (QTL) mining will further help in determining the genetic determinants of abiotic stress tolerance in pulses.

A comprehensive overview of miRNA targeting drought stress resistance in plants

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are essential nonprotein-coding genes. In a range of organisms, miRNAs has been reported to play an essential role in regulating gene expressions at post-transcriptional level. They participate in most of the stress responsive processes in plants. Drought is an ultimate abiotic stress that affects the crop production. Therefore understanding drought stress responses are essential to improve the production of agricultural crops. Throughout evolution, plants have developed their own defense systems to cope with the adversities of environmental stresses. Among defensive mechanisms include the regulations of gene expression by miRNAs. Drought stress regulates the expression of some of the functionally conserved miRNAs in different plants. The given properties of miRNAs provide an insight to genetic alterations and enhancing drought resistance in cereal crops. The current review gives a summary to regulatory mechanisms in plants as well as miRNAs response to drought stresses in cereal crops. Some possible approaches and guidelines for the exploitation of drought stress miRNA responses to improve cereal crops are also described.

MiR408-SmLAC3 Module Participates in Salvianolic Acid B Synthesis in Salvia miltiorrhiza

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of gene expression involved in plant development and abiotic stress responses. Recently, miRNAs have also been reported to be engaged in the regulation of secondary plant metabolism. However, there are few functional studies of miRNAs in medicinal plants. For this study, we obtained Sm-miR408 interference lines to investigate the function of Sm-miR408 in a medicinal model plant (Salvia miltiorrhiza). It was found that inhibiting the expression of Sm-miR408 could increase the content of salvianolic acid B and rosmarinic acid in the roots. The SmLAC3 and Sm-miR408 expression patterns were analyzed by qRT-PCR. A 5’ RLM-RACE assay confirmed that Sm-miR408 targets and negatively regulates SmLAC3. Moreover, the overexpression of SmLAC3 in S. miltiorrhiza promoted the accumulation of salvianolic acids in the roots. Furthermore, the lignin content of the roots in overexpressed SmLAC3 lines was decreased. Taken together, these findings indicated that Sm-miR408 modulates the accumulation of phenolic acids in S. miltiorrhiza by targeting SmLAC3 expression levels.

Non-Coding RNAs in Legumes: Their Emerging Roles in Regulating Biotic/Abiotic Stress Responses and Plant Growth and Development

Noncoding RNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs), small interference RNAs (siRNAs), circular RNA (circRNA), and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), control gene expression at the transcription, post-transcription, and translation levels. Apart from protein-coding genes, accumulating evidence supports ncRNAs playing a critical role in shaping plant growth and development and biotic and abiotic stress responses in various species, including legume crops. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) interact with DNA, RNA, and proteins, modulating their target genes. However, the regulatory mechanisms controlling these cellular processes are not well understood. Here, we discuss the features of various ncRNAs, including their emerging role in contributing to biotic/abiotic stress response and plant growth and development, in addition to the molecular mechanisms involved, focusing on legume crops. Unravelling the underlying molecular mechanisms and functional implications of ncRNAs will enhance our understanding of the coordinated regulation of plant defences against various biotic and abiotic stresses and for key growth and development processes to better design various legume crops for global food security.

Current status of microRNA-mediated regulation of drought stress responses in cereals

Drought is one of the most important abiotic stress factors impeding crop productivity. With the uncovering of their role as potential regulators of gene expression, microRNAs (miRNAs) have been recognized as new targets for developing stress resistance. MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs whose abundance is significantly altered under stress conditions. Interestingly, plant miRNAs predominantly targets transcription factors (TFs), and some of which are also the most critical drought-responsive genes that in turn could regulate the expression of numerous loci with drought-adaptive potential. The phytohormone ABA plays important roles in regulating stomatal conductance and in initiating an adaptive response to drought stress. miRNAs are implicated in regulating ABA-(abscisic acid) and non-ABA-mediated drought resistance pathways. For instance, miR159-MYB module and miR169-NFYA module participates in an ABA-dependent pathway, whereas several other ABA-independent miRNA-target modules (miR156-SPL; miR393-TIR1; miR160-ARF10, ARF16, ARF17; miR167-ARF6 and ARF8; miR390/TAS3siRNA-ARF2, ARF3, ARF4) collectively regulate drought responses in plants. Overall, miRNA-mediated drought response manifests diverse molecular, biochemical and physiological processes. Because of their immense role in controlling gene expression, miRNA manipulation has significant potential to augment plant tolerance to drought stress. This review compiles the current understanding of drought-responsive miRNAs in major cereals. Also, potential miRNA manipulation strategies currently in use along with the challenges and future perspectives are discussed.

Overexpression of Os-microRNA408 enhances drought tolerance in perennial ryegrass

As a conserved microRNA (miRNA) family in plants, miR408 is known to be involved in different abiotic stress responses, including drought. Interestingly, some studies indicated a species- and/or cultivar-specific drought-responsive characteristic of miR408 in plant drought stress. Moreover, the functions of miR408 in perennial grass species are unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of miR408 in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) by withholding water for 10 days for both wild type and transgenic plants with heterologous expression of rice (Oryza sativa L.) miR408 gene, Os-miR408. The results showed that transgenic perennial ryegrass plants displayed morphological changes under normal growth conditions, such as curl leaves and sunken stomata, which could be related to decreased leaf water loss. Moreover, transgenic perennial ryegrass exhibited improved drought tolerance, as demonstrated by maintaining higher leaf relative water content (RWC), lower electrolyte leakage (EL), and less lipid peroxidation compared to WT plants under drought stress. Furthermore, the transgenic plants showed higher antioxidative capacity under drought. These results showed that the improved drought tolerance in Os-miR408 transgenic plants could be due to leaf morphological changes favoring the maintenance of water status and to increased antioxidative capacity protecting against the reactive oxygen species damages under stress. These findings implied that miR408 could serve as a potential target for genetic manipulations to engineer perennial grass plants for improved water stress tolerance.

Identification of citrus immune regulators involved in defence against Huanglongbing using a new functional screening system

Huanglongbing (HLB) is the most devastating citrus disease in the world. Almost all commercial citrus varieties are susceptible to the causal bacterium, Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus (CLas), which is transmitted by the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP). Currently, there are no effective management strategies to control HLB. HLB-tolerant traits have been reported in some citrus relatives and citrus hybrids, which offer a direct pathway for discovering natural defence regulators to combat HLB. Through comparative analysis of small RNA profiles and target gene expression between an HLB-tolerant citrus hybrid (Poncirus trifoliata × Citrus reticulata) and a susceptible citrus variety, we identified a panel of candidate defence regulators for HLB-tolerance. These regulators display similar expression patterns in another HLB-tolerant citrus relative, with a distinct genetic and geographic background, the Sydney hybrid (Microcitrus virgata). Because the functional validation of candidate regulators in tree crops is always challenging, we developed a novel rapid functional screening method, using a C. Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso)/potato psyllid/Nicotiana benthamiana interaction system to mimic the natural transmission and infection circuit of the HLB complex. When combined with efficient virus-induced gene silencing in N. benthamiana, this innovative and cost-effective screening method allows for rapid identification and functional characterization of regulators involved in plant immune responses against HLB, such as the positive regulator BRCA1-Associated Protein, and the negative regulator Vascular Associated Death Protein.