Identification of MiRNA from eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) by small RNA deep sequencing and their response to Verticillium dahliae infection

PLoS One. 2013 Aug 27;8(8):e72840. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0072840. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

MiRNAs are a class of non-coding small RNAs that play important roles in the regulation of gene expression. Although plant miRNAs have been extensively studied in model systems, less is known in other plants with limited genome sequence data, including eggplant (Solanum melongena L.). To identify miRNAs in eggplant and their response to Verticillium dahliae infection, a fungal pathogen for which clear understanding of infection mechanisms and effective cure methods are currently lacking, we deep-sequenced two small RNA (sRNA) libraries prepared from mock-infected and infected seedlings of eggplants. Specifically, 30,830,792 reads produced 7,716,328 unique miRNAs representing 99 known miRNA families that have been identified in other plant species. Two novel putative miRNAs were predicted with eggplant ESTs. The potential targets of the identified known and novel miRNAs were also predicted based on sequence homology search. It was observed that the length distribution of obtained sRNAs and the expression of 6 miRNA families were obviously different between the two libraries. These results provide a framework for further analysis of miRNAs and their role in regulating plant response to fungal infection and Verticillium wilt in particular.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Ascomycota / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant / genetics*
  • MicroRNAs* / biosynthesis
  • MicroRNAs* / genetics
  • Plant Diseases / genetics
  • Plant Diseases / microbiology
  • RNA, Plant* / biosynthesis
  • RNA, Plant* / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, RNA*
  • Solanum melongena / genetics*
  • Solanum melongena / metabolism*
  • Solanum melongena / microbiology

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Plant

Grants and funding

This study was supported financially by grants from the Jiangsu Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Fund (NO. cx (11)1020), the National ‘863’ High-tech Program (NO. 2010AA10A108), the National Pear Industry Technology System (NO. CARS-29) and A Project Funded by the Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions: Modern horticultural science (PAPD). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.