MicroRNA-mediated regulation of agronomically important seed traits: a treasure trove with shades of grey!. (19th May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dhaka, Namrata; Sharma, Rita
• Is Part Of: Critical reviews in biotechnology. Volume 41:Number 4(2021)
• Page Start: 594
• Page End: 608
• Publication Date: 2021-05-19
• Subjects: microRNA -- seed -- seed quality -- seed size -- seed shattering -- seed vigor -- seed development; Biotechnology -- Periodicals; Biotechnology -- Periodicals; Review Literature -- Periodicals; Public Health -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Industry -- Periodicals; Biotechnology; Review Literature; Public Health; Environment; Industry; 660.6
• DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2021.1873238
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0738-8551

Abstract

Abstract: Seed development is an intricate process with multiple levels of regulation. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as one of the crucial components of molecular networks underlying agronomically important seed traits in diverse plant species. In fact, loss of function of the genes regulating miRNA biogenesis also exhibits defects in seed development. A total of 21 different miRNAs have experimentally been shown to regulate seed size, nutritional content, vigor, and shattering, and have been reviewed here. The mechanism details of the associated regulatory cascades mediated through transcriptional regulators, phytohormones, basic metabolic machinery, and secondary siRNAs are elaborated. Co-localization of miRNAs and their target regions with seed-related QTLs provides new avenues for engineering these traits using conventional breeding programs or biotechnological interventions. While global analysis of miRNAs using small RNA sequencing studies are expanding the repertoire of candidate miRNAs, recent revelations on their inheritance, transport, and mechanism of action would be instrumental in designing better strategies for optimizing agronomically relevant seed traits.