Effects of Small RNA on Plant-Pathogen Interactions

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 9250

Special Issue Editors

College of Horticultural Sciences and Forestry, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
Interests: plant-virus interaction; RNA silencing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200233, China
Interests: plant-omycea interaction particularly from the angle of small RNA mediated regulation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Small RNAs play fundamental roles in a broad range of plant life activities, including plant–pathogen interactions. Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) derived from invading viruses mediate direct silencing of viral gene expression and function as a natural antiviral defense mechanism. In turn, viral siRNAs have also been employed by viruses to target plant genes to induce viral symptoms. A similar scenario has also been observed during plant interactions with bacteria, fungi, and oomycete pathogens. In addition, numerous plant endogenous small RNAs, including siRNAs and microRNAs, have been shown to modulate plant–pathogen interaction through targeting various plant genes participating in various defense pathways. Investigation of molecular mechanisms underlying these small RNA mediated regulations of plant–pathogen interactions had led to innovation in various disease-resistant crops. In this Special Issue, we welcome submissions that illustrate new insights into the effects of small RNAs on plant–pathogen interactions, as well as engineering of disease-resistant crops based on small-RNA-mediated mechanisms. Comprehensive literature reviews are also welcomed to discuss the current status and future directions in a specific topic of plant–pathogen interactions, emphasizing the role of small RNAs.

Prof. Dr. Feng Li
Prof. Dr. Yongli Qiao
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • siRNA
  • miRNA
  • ROS
  • hormone
  • virus
  • bacterium
  • fungus
  • oomycete
  • plants

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 3143 KiB  
Article
Large Artificial microRNA Cluster Genes Confer Effective Resistance against Multiple Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Viruses in Transgenic Tomato
by Annum Khalid, Xi Zhang, Huaijin Ji, Muhammad Yasir, Tariq Farooq, Xinyi Dai and Feng Li
Plants 2023, 12(11), 2179; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12112179 - 31 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1173
Abstract
Tomato yellow leaf curl disease (TYLCD) has become the key limiting factor for the production of tomato in many areas because of the continuous infection and recombination of several tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV)-like species (TYLCLV) which produce novel and destructive viruses. [...] Read more.
Tomato yellow leaf curl disease (TYLCD) has become the key limiting factor for the production of tomato in many areas because of the continuous infection and recombination of several tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV)-like species (TYLCLV) which produce novel and destructive viruses. Artificial microRNA (AMIR) is a recent and effective technology used to create viral resistance in major crops. This study applies AMIR technology in two ways, i.e., amiRNA in introns (AMINs) and amiRNA in exons (AMIEs), to express 14 amiRNAs targeting conserved regions in seven TYLCLV genes and their satellite DNA. The resulting pAMIN14 and pAMIE14 vectors can encode large AMIR clusters and their function in silencing reporter genes was validated with transient assays and stable transgenic N. tabacum plants. To assess the efficacy of conferring resistance against TYLCLV, pAMIE14 and pAMIN14 were transformed into tomato cultivar A57 and the resulting transgenic tomato plants were evaluated for their level of resistance to mixed TYLCLV infection. The results suggest that pAMIN14 transgenic lines have a more effective resistance than pAMIE14 transgenic lines, reaching a resistance level comparable to plants carrying the TY1 resistance gene. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Small RNA on Plant-Pathogen Interactions)
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16 pages, 2744 KiB  
Article
Identification of miRNAs Involving Potato-Phytophthora infestans Interaction
by Ming Luo, Xinyuan Sun, Meng Xu and Zhendong Tian
Plants 2023, 12(3), 461; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12030461 - 19 Jan 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1741
Abstract
sRNAs (small RNAs) play an important role in regulation of plant immunity against a variety of pathogens. In this study, sRNA sequencing analysis was performed to identify miRNAs (microRNAs) during the interaction of potato and Phytophthora infestans. Totally, 171 potato miRNAs were [...] Read more.
sRNAs (small RNAs) play an important role in regulation of plant immunity against a variety of pathogens. In this study, sRNA sequencing analysis was performed to identify miRNAs (microRNAs) during the interaction of potato and Phytophthora infestans. Totally, 171 potato miRNAs were identified, 43 of which were annotated in the miRNA database and 128 were assigned as novel miRNAs in this study. Those potato miRNAs may target 878 potato genes and half of them encode resistance proteins. Fifty-three potato miRNAs may target 194 P. infestans genes. Three potato miRNAs (novel 72, 133, and 140) were predicted to have targets only in the P. infestans genome. miRNAs transient expression and P. infestans inoculation assay showed that miR396, miR166, miR6149-5P, novel133, or novel140 promoted P. infestans colonization, while miR394 inhibited colonization on Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. An artificial miRNA target (amiRNA) degradation experiment demonstrated that miR394 could target both potato gene (PGSC0003DMG400034305) and P. infestans genes. miR396 targets the multicystatin gene (PGSC0003DMG400026899) and miR6149-5p could shear the galactose oxidase F-box protein gene CPR30 (PGSC0003DMG400021641). This study provides new information on the aspect of cross-kingdom immune regulation in potato-P. infestans interaction at the sRNAs regulation level. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Small RNA on Plant-Pathogen Interactions)
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10 pages, 1871 KiB  
Article
Simple Webserver-Facilitated Method to Design and Synthesize Artificial miRNA Gene and Its Application in Engineering Viral Resistance
by Muhammad Yasir, Mohamed Motawaa, Qingwei Wang, Xi Zhang, Annum Khalid, Xingkui Cai and Feng Li
Plants 2022, 11(16), 2125; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11162125 - 15 Aug 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1420
Abstract
Plant viruses impose serious threats on crop production. Artificial miRNAs can mediate specific and effective gene silencing in plants and are widely used in plant gene function studies and to engineer plant viral resistance. To facilitate the design of artificial miRNA genes, we [...] Read more.
Plant viruses impose serious threats on crop production. Artificial miRNAs can mediate specific and effective gene silencing in plants and are widely used in plant gene function studies and to engineer plant viral resistance. To facilitate the design of artificial miRNA genes, we developed a webserver, AMIRdesigner, which can be used to design oligos for artificial miRNA synthesis using wild-type and permutated MIR171 and MIR164 backbones. The artificial miRNA genes designed by AMIRdesigner can be easily assembled into miRNA clusters for multiple target sites. To validate the server functionality, we designed four artificial miRNA genes targeting four conserved regions in the potato leafroll virus genome using AMIRdesigner. These genes were synthesized with the server-designed oligos and further assembled into a quadruple miRNA cluster, which was cloned into an overexpression vector and transformed into potato plants. Small RNA Northern blot and virus inoculation analyses showed that a high level of artificial miRNA expression and good viral resistance were achieved in some of the transgenic lines. These results demonstrate the utility of our webserver AMIRdesigner for engineering crop viral resistance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Small RNA on Plant-Pathogen Interactions)
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12 pages, 2744 KiB  
Article
A New MiRNA MiRm0002 in Eggplant Participates in the Regulation of Defense Responses to Verticillium Wilt
by Wenjiao Zhu, Xinru Liu, Min Chen, Nianjiao Tao, Alexander Tendu and Qing Yang
Plants 2021, 10(11), 2274; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10112274 - 23 Oct 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2274
Abstract
Verticillium wilt is a major disease that severely affects eggplant production, and a new eggplant miRNA named miRm0002 identified through high-throughput sequencing was highly induced by Verticillium wilt infection. However, the miRm0002 function was still elusive. In this study, the sequence of the [...] Read more.
Verticillium wilt is a major disease that severely affects eggplant production, and a new eggplant miRNA named miRm0002 identified through high-throughput sequencing was highly induced by Verticillium wilt infection. However, the miRm0002 function was still elusive. In this study, the sequence of the miRm0002 precursor was cloned and transgenic eggplants were constructed. In vivo inoculation test and in vitro fungistatic test showed that overexpressing miRm0002 lines were more resistant to Verticillium dahliae and inhibiting miRm0002 lines were more sensitive, compared to the wild-type (WT) control. Some physiological indicators were selected and the results showed that SOD, POD, and CAT activities were significantly increased in Verticillium wilt-infected overexpressing miRm0002 lines, indicating that the expression of miRm0002 activates the antioxidant system. QRT-PCR assay showed that the transcript expression of miRm0002 candidate target ARF8, a gene encoding auxin response factor was negatively related to miRm0002 in WT as well as transgenic eggplants. However, RLM-RACE mapping and degradome sequencing showed miRm0002 could not cleave the sequence of ARF8. Taken together, these data suggest that miRm0002 plays a positive role in the defense response of eggplant against Verticillium wilt. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Small RNA on Plant-Pathogen Interactions)
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Review

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17 pages, 1119 KiB  
Review
Small Talk: On the Possible Role of Trans-Kingdom Small RNAs during Plant–Virus–Vector Tritrophic Communication
by Emilyn E. Matsumura and Richard Kormelink
Plants 2023, 12(6), 1411; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12061411 - 22 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1849
Abstract
Small RNAs (sRNAs) are the hallmark and main effectors of RNA silencing and therefore are involved in major biological processes in plants, such as regulation of gene expression, antiviral defense, and plant genome integrity. The mechanisms of sRNA amplification as well as their [...] Read more.
Small RNAs (sRNAs) are the hallmark and main effectors of RNA silencing and therefore are involved in major biological processes in plants, such as regulation of gene expression, antiviral defense, and plant genome integrity. The mechanisms of sRNA amplification as well as their mobile nature and rapid generation suggest sRNAs as potential key modulators of intercellular and interspecies communication in plant-pathogen–pest interactions. Plant endogenous sRNAs can act in cis to regulate plant innate immunity against pathogens, or in trans to silence pathogens’ messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and impair virulence. Likewise, pathogen-derived sRNAs can act in cis to regulate expression of their own genes and increase virulence towards a plant host, or in trans to silence plant mRNAs and interfere with host defense. In plant viral diseases, virus infection alters the composition and abundance of sRNAs in plant cells, not only by triggering and interfering with the plant RNA silencing antiviral response, which accumulates virus-derived small interfering RNAs (vsiRNAs), but also by modulating plant endogenous sRNAs. Here, we review the current knowledge on the nature and activity of virus-responsive sRNAs during virus–plant interactions and discuss their role in trans-kingdom modulation of virus vectors for the benefit of virus dissemination. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Effects of Small RNA on Plant-Pathogen Interactions)
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