Dual host-pathogen small RNA sequencing during wheat stem rust infection

RNA sequencing of two organisms in a symbiotic interaction can yield insights that are not found in samples from each organism alone. We present a sequencing dataset focusing on the small RNA fraction from wheat plants (Triticum aestivum) infected with the biotrophic pathogen wheat stem rust fungus (Puccinia graminis f.sp. tritici). Simultaneous small RNA sequencing of this agronomically important crop and its adversary can lead to a better understanding of the role of noncoding RNAs in both plant and fungal biology.

Small RNA libraries were constructed from infected and mock-infected plant tissue and sequenced on the Ion Torrent platform. Quality control was performed to ensure sample and data integrity. Using this dataset, researchers can employ previously established methods to map subsets of reads exclusively to each organism's genome. Subsequent analyses can be undertaken to discover microRNAs, predict small RNA targets, and generate hypotheses for further laboratory experiments.