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MicroRNA‐Based Biotechnology for Plant Improvement
Author(s) -
Zhang Baohong,
Wang Qinglian
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of cellular physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.529
H-Index - 174
eISSN - 1097-4652
pISSN - 0021-9541
DOI - 10.1002/jcp.24685
Subject(s) - microrna , biology , computational biology , biogenesis , abiotic component , abiotic stress , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , genetics , ecology
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an extensive class of newly discovered endogenous small RNAs, which negatively regulate gene expression at the post‐transcription levels. As the application of next‐generation deep sequencing and advanced bioinformatics, the miRNA‐related study has been expended to non‐model plant species and the number of identified miRNAs has dramatically increased in the past years. miRNAs play a critical role in almost all biological and metabolic processes, and provide a unique strategy for plant improvement. Here, we first briefly review the discovery, history, and biogenesis of miRNAs, then focus more on the application of miRNAs on plant breeding and the future directions. Increased plant biomass through controlling plant development and phase change has been one achievement for miRNA‐based biotechnology; plant tolerance to abiotic and biotic stress was also significantly enhanced by regulating the expression of an individual miRNA. Both endogenous and artificial miRNAs may serve as important tools for plant improvement. J. Cell. Physiol. 230: 1–15, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.