Plant responses to drought stress: microRNAs in action

Waqar Islam; Atif Idrees; Abdul Waheed; Fanjiang Zeng

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2022.114282

Plant responses to drought stress: microRNAs in action

Environ Res. 2022 Dec;215(Pt 2):114282. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114282. Epub 2022 Sep 16.

Authors

Waqar Islam¹, Atif Idrees², Abdul Waheed³, Fanjiang Zeng⁴

Affiliations

¹ Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Desert Plant Roots Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China; State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China; Cele National Station of Observation and Research for Desert-Grassland Ecosystems, Cele, 848300, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China. Electronic address: waqarislam@m.fafu.edu.cn.
² Guangdong Key Laboratory of Animal Conservation and Resource Utilization, Guangdong Public Laboratory of Wild Animal Conservation and Utilization, Institute of Zoology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510260, China.
³ Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Desert Plant Roots Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China; State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China.
⁴ Xinjiang Key Laboratory of Desert Plant Roots Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China; State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, China; Cele National Station of Observation and Research for Desert-Grassland Ecosystems, Cele, 848300, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China. Electronic address: zengfj@ms.xjb.ac.cn.

PMID: 36122702
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114282

Abstract

Drought is common in most regions of the world, and it has a significant impact on plant growth and development. Plants, on the other hand, have evolved their own defense systems to deal with the extreme weather. The reprogramming of gene expression by microRNAs (miRNAs) is one of these defense mechanisms. miRNAs are short noncoding RNAs that have emerged as key post-transcriptional gene regulators in a variety of species. Drought stress modulates the expression of certain miRNAs that are functionally conserved across plant species. These characteristics imply that miRNA-based genetic changes might improve drought resistance in plants. This study highlights current knowledge of plant miRNA biogenesis, regulatory mechanisms and their role in drought stress responses. miRNAs functions and their adaptations by plants during drought stress has also been explained that can be exploited to promote drought-resistance among economically important crops.

Keywords: Abiotic stresses; Arid environment; Environmental constraints; Genetic regulations; Water stress.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Crops, Agricultural / metabolism
Droughts*
Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
MicroRNAs* / genetics
Stress, Physiological

Substances

MicroRNAs