MicroRNA Expression Profile during Aphid Feeding in Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium)
Xiaolong Xia1, Yafeng Shao1, Jiafu Jiang1
1College of Horticulture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, China.
Abstract:
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of gene expression, affecting many biological processes. As yet, their roles in the response of chrysanthemum to aphid feeding have not been explored. Here, the identity and abundance of miRNAs induced by aphid infestation have been obtained using high-throughput Illumina sequencing platform. Three leaf small RNA libraries were generated, one from plants infested with the aphid Macrosiphoniella sanbourni (library A), one from plants with mock puncture treatment (library M), and the third from untreated control plants (library CK). A total of 7,944,797, 7,605,251 and 9,244,002 clean unique reads, ranging from 18 to 30 nucleotides (nt) in length, were obtained from library CK, A and M, respectively. As a result, 303 conserved miRNAs belonging to 276 miRNAs families and 234 potential novel miRNAs were detected in chrysanthemum leaf, out of which 80, 100 and 79 significantly differentially expressed miRNAs were identified in the comparison of CK-VS-A, CK-VS-M and M-VS-A, respectively. Several of the differentially abundant miRNAs (in particular miR159a, miR160a, miR393a) may be associated with the plant's response to aphid infestation.
Insights
This study identified microRNAs (miRNAs) in chrysanthemum plants responding to aphid feeding. Several differentially expressed miRNAs were found, suggesting their role in plant defense against insects.
Area of Science:
- Plant Science
- Molecular Biology
- Genomics
Background:
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key gene expression regulators impacting diverse biological processes.
- The function of miRNAs in chrysanthemum's response to aphid infestation remains uninvestigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and quantify miRNAs in chrysanthemum leaves under aphid infestation.
- To explore the role of differentially expressed miRNAs in plant-insect interactions.
Main Methods:
- High-throughput Illumina sequencing was used to analyze small RNA libraries from control, mock-treated, and aphid-infested chrysanthemum plants.
- Bioinformatic analysis identified conserved and novel miRNAs and quantified their differential expression.
Main Results:
- A total of 303 conserved and 234 novel miRNAs were detected in chrysanthemum.
- Significant differential expression was observed for 80 miRNAs (CK-VS-A), 100 (CK-VS-M), and 79 (M-VS-A).
- Specific miRNAs, including miR159a, miR160a, and miR393a, showed altered abundance, potentially linking them to aphid response.
Conclusions:
- This research provides the first comprehensive analysis of miRNA profiles in chrysanthemum during aphid feeding.
- Identified differentially expressed miRNAs, such as miR159a, miR160a, and miR393a, are potential key players in chrysanthemum's defense mechanisms against aphid attack.
