Identification and characterization of microRNAs at different flowering developmental stages in moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) by high-throughput sequencing

Abstract

Researching moso bamboo flowering has been difficult because of its unknown flowering interval and the rarity of florescent samples. To identify microRNAs (miRNAs) and study their expression patterns during the flower developmental process of moso bamboo, small RNAs from non-flowering leaves and four flower developmental periods were sequenced using Illumina technology. In total, 409 known miRNAs and 492 differentially expressed novel miRNAs were identified in moso bamboo. Of the known miRNAs that were differentially expressed between non-flowering and flowering samples, 64 were predicted to have a total of 308 targets. Among the miRNAs, seven known and five novel miRNAs were selected, as were four of their target genes, and their expression profiles were validated using qRT-PCR. The results indicated that the miRNA expression levels were negatively correlated with those of their targets. The research comprehensively revealed that the differentially expressed miRNAs and their targets participated in diverse biological pathways and played significant regulatory roles in moso bamboo flowering. The data provide a significant resource for understanding the molecular mechanisms in moso bamboo flowering and senescence, and serve as the primary foundation for further studies on metabolic regulatory networks that involve miRNAs.

The association of hormone signalling genes, transcription and changes in shoot anatomy during moso bamboo growth

“…In addition, numerous genes annotated as ‘oxidation–reduction process’, ‘monocarboxylic acid biosynthetic process’, ‘phenylpropanoid biosynthetic process’ and other biological processes were also found to be statistically significant with most being up‐regulated. This may be related to ongoing cell proliferation in the meristems (Gao et al ., ; Sun et al ., ). Furthermore, numerous mitochondria were present in the internode cells indicating the great energy requirements for cell proliferation during shoot growth.…”

Identification and Target Prediction of MicroRNAs in Ulmus pumila L. Seedling Roots under Salt Stress by High-Throughput Sequencing

“…Since its first use in the model species A. thaliana [47], high-throughput sequencing has contributed greatly to miRNA discovery and has been successfully applied to many different species, including peanut [48], barley [49], peach [50], moso bamboo [51], rubber tree [52], Nicotiana benthamiana Domin. [53], and Eucheuma denticulatum (N.L.Burman) F.S.Collins & A.B.Hervey [54].…”

Bamboo Flowering from the Perspective of Comparative Genomics and Transcriptomics

“…In rice miR156 is known to repress flowering by targeting SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN-LIKE ( SBP/SPL ) transcription factor ( SPL s, Xiong et al, 2006). Expression of miR156 showed significant down-regulation through the transition from vegetative to flowering stages in P. edulis (Gao et al, 2015). Additional candidates that may have roles are miR164a, miR166a, miR167a, miR535a, miR159a.1, miR164a , and miR168-3-p (Gao et al, 2015; Ge et al, 2016).…”

“…Expression of miR156 showed significant down-regulation through the transition from vegetative to flowering stages in P. edulis (Gao et al, 2015). Additional candidates that may have roles are miR164a, miR166a, miR167a, miR535a, miR159a.1, miR164a , and miR168-3-p (Gao et al, 2015; Ge et al, 2016). In contrast, some micro RNAs may play positive roles in bamboo flowering.…”

“…One such candidate is miR172 , which controls flowering time and the formation of floral organs through the regulation of the AP2 -like transcription factor (Lee et al, 2014). miR172a showed an increase in expression level during progression from vegetative to the flowering phase in P. edulis (Gao et al, 2015). The expression of other miRNAs such as miR169b, miR395h-5p , and miR529-3p were higher in floral tissues than in vegetative tissues.…”