Solanum lycopersicum microRNA1916 targets multiple target genes and negatively regulates the immune response in tomato

Abstract

MicroRNA1916 (miR1916) is one of the nonconserved miRNAs that respond to various stresses in plants, but little has been known at present about its mechanisms in biotic stresses. In this study, the expression of Solanum lycopersicum (sly)‐miR1916 in tomato was found to be down‐regulated after infection with Phytophthora infestans or Botrytis cinerea. Tomato plants that overexpressed sly‐miR1916 displayed significant enhancement in susceptibility to P. infestans and B. cinerea infection, as well as increased tendency to produce reactive oxygen species. Silencing of sly‐miR1916 by short tandem target mimic and artificial microRNA strategies caused the tomato plants to become more tolerant to adverse conditions. In addition, lower sly‐miR1916 expression could up‐regulate the expression of strictosidine synthase (STR‐2), UDP‐glycosyltransferases (UGTs), late blight resistance protein homolog R1B‐16, disease resistance protein RPP13‐like, and MYB transcription factor (MYB12), which ultimately resulted in the accumulation of α‐tomatine and anthocyanins via STR‐2, UGT, and MYB12. Furthermore, ectopic expression of sly‐miR1916/STR‐2 significantly changed the tolerance of tobacco to B. cinerea. Taken together, the results demonstrated that sly‐miR1916 might regulate the expression of STR‐2, UGT, and MYB12 in tomato plant, conferring sensitivity to biotic stress via modulating α‐tomatine and anthocyanins.

Overexpression of MiR482c in Tomato Induces Enhanced Susceptibility to Late Blight

“…The disease symptoms on inoculated leaves were observed and measured at 5 days postinfection. Subsequently, the leaves were dyed in trypan blue solution (2.5 mg·mL −1 ) at 23 ± 1 °C for 12 h and discolored by being soaked in lactophenol/ethanol solution [14].…”

“…MiR164a in rice was downregulated, and its target transcription factor OsNAC60 was derepressed correspondingly to enhance plant defenses against rice blast [13]. MiR1916 in tomato was demonstrated to negatively regulate tomato resistance to late blight and gray mold [14]. In addition to acting as regulators under biotic stress, miRNAs also participate in the response to abiotic stress and plant development.…”

Novel targets for engineering Physostegia chlorotic mottle and tomato brown rugose fruit virus-resistant tomatoes: in silico prediction of tomato microRNA targets

“…Overexpression of miR1916 in tomato reduced its drought tolerance, and its silence in transgenic plants increased drought stress resistance, significantly ( Chen, Meng & Luan, 2019 ). It was down-regulated in tomato after P. infestans or B. cinerea infection ( Chen et al, 2019 ). Its overexpression displayed significant enhancement in susceptibility to infection, as well as an increased tendency to ROS production.…”

Peer Review #1 of "A novel computational approach to the silencing of Sugarcane Bacilliform Guadeloupe A Virus determines potential host-derived MicroRNAs in sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) (v0.1)"

“…Successful demonstration about changes in the nucleotide transcripts of mature miRNAs does not affect their biogenesis and the application of modified miRNAs to target Potyviruses in Arabidopsis was reported first time (Niu et al 2006). Several studies have been successful in generating resistance against plant viruses using amiRNA-technology in crop plants such as tomato (Chen et al 2019;Zhang et al 2011) and cotton (Akmal et al 2017;Ali et al 2013). Most recently, amiRNA-mediated gene silencing has been demonstrated against Potexvirus and Tobamovirus successfully (Petchthai et al 2018).…”