Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are essential nonprotein-coding genes. In a range of organisms, miRNAs has been reported to play an essential role in regulating gene expressions at post-transcriptional level. They participate in most of the stress responsive processes in plants. Drought is an ultimate abiotic stress that affects the crop production. Therefore understanding drought stress responses are essential to improve the production of agricultural crops. Throughout evolution, plants have developed their own defense systems to cope with the adversities of environmental stresses. Among defensive mechanisms include the regulations of gene expression by miRNAs. Drought stress regulates the expression of some of the functionally conserved miRNAs in different plants. The given properties of miRNAs provide an insight to genetic alterations and enhancing drought resistance in cereal crops. The current review gives a summary to regulatory mechanisms in plants as well as miRNAs response to drought stresses in cereal crops. Some possible approaches and guidelines for the exploitation of drought stress miRNA responses to improve cereal crops are also described.
Highlights
Drought is an utmost significant abiotic stress that affects the growth, development and production of several plants (Ceccarelli and Grando, 1997)
These results suggested that miRNAs could be used as molecular markers for improving agronomic traits of crops, including drought resistance
Drought stress a complex trait that is controlled by several genes regulatory networks mainly constitutes miRNAs
Summary
Drought is an utmost significant abiotic stress that affects the growth, development and production of several plants (Ceccarelli and Grando, 1997). The current review highlights the recent advances of miRNA-mediated adaptation to drought-stress in plants It focuses on their potential roles in molecular breeding of crops for increased drought resistance. Overview of miRNA targeting drought stress oxygen species (ROS), targeting the up-regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) to enhance the expression of corresponding antioxidant genes and proteins (Wei et al, 2009). Down-regulation of miR528 and miR168 in maize seedlings under drought stress was accompanied by the accumulation of their corresponding targets, MAPK (Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase) and POD (Peroxidase) (Wei et al, 2009), further suggesting that miRNAs benefit antioxidant defense of plant cells caused by drought stress
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
