English (United Kingdom)

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/featured_content/oa?rat=en

https://curated-unify.zendy.io/wp-json/zendy-region/v1/highlighted_journal/

Global: Zendy Tools annual

Presents the keyphrase highlighting as premium feature

Keyphrase Highlighting

Presents the summarisation as premium feature

Summarisation

Insights

Presents the pdf analysis as premium feature

PDF Analysis

Presents the zaia usage as premium feature

ZAIA

Global: Zendy Tools monthly

Global: Zendy Plus monthly

Presents the access of premium content as premium feature

Premium Content

Global: Zendy Plus annual

Global: Zendy Free Plan

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in plant growth and development, but few studies have illuminated the allelic interactions among miRNAs and their targets in perennial plants. Here, we combined analysis of expression patterns and single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based association studies to explore the interactions between  Pto-MIR475b  and its four target genes ( Pto-PPR1, Pto-PPR2, Pto-PPR3,  and  Pto-PPR4 ) in 435 unrelated individuals of  Populus tomentosa . Expression patterns showed a significant negative correlation ( r  = -0.447 to -0.411,  P  < 0.01) between  Pto-MIR475b  and its four targets in eight tissues of  P. tomentosa,  suggesting that Pto-miR475b may negatively regulate the four targets. Single SNP-based association studies identified 93 significant associations ( P  < 0.01,  Q  < 0.1) representing associations of 80 unique SNPs in  Pto-MIR475b  and its four targets with nine traits, revealing their potential roles in tree growth and wood formation. Moreover, one common SNP in the precursor region significantly altered the secondary structure of the pre-Pto-miR475b and changed the expression level of  Pto-MIR475b . Analysis of epistatic interactions identified 115 significant SNP–SNP associations ( P  < 0.01) representing 45 unique SNPs from  Pto-MIR475b  and its four targets for 10 traits, revealing that genetic interactions between  Pto-MIR475b  and its targets influence quantitative traits of perennial plants. Our study provided a feasible strategy to study population genetics in forest trees and enhanced our understanding of miRNAs by dissecting the allelic interactions between this miRNA and its targets in  P. tomentosa .

Allelic Interactions among Pto-MIR475b and Its Four Target Genes Potentially Affect Growth and Wood Properties in Populus