Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in responding to biotic and abiotic stresses in plants. Jujube witches’-broom a phytoplasma disease of Ziziphus jujuba is prevalent in China and is a serious problem to the industry. However, the molecular mechanism of the disease is poorly understood. In this study, genome-wide identification and analysis of microRNAs in response to witches’-broom was performed. A total of 85 conserved miRNA unique sequences belonging to 32 miRNA families and 24 novel miRNA unique sequences, including their complementary miRNA* strands were identified from small RNA libraries derived from a uninfected and witches’-broom infected Z. jujuba plant. Differentially expressed miRNAs associated with Jujube witches’-broom disease were investigated between the two libraries, and 12 up-regulated miRNAs and 10 down- regulated miRNAs identified with more than 2 fold changes. Additionally, 40 target genes of 85 conserved miRNAs and 49 target genes of 24 novel miRNAs were predicted and their putative functions assigned. Using the modified 5’-RACE method, we confirmed that SPL and MYB were cleaved by miR156 and miR159, respectively. Our results provide insight into the molecular mechanisms of witches’-broom disease in Z. jujuba.
Highlights
Zizyphus jujuba is an economically important fruit tree species in China, belonging to the family Rhamnaceae [1]
Two small RNA libraries were constructed from the sprig leaves of Z. jujuba wild type (ZZN) and the infected plant (ZZD) with witches’-broom disease (Fig 1)
The 24-nt small RNAs (sRNAs) were mainly comprised of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), Identification of Witches’-Broom Phytoplasma Responsive MicroRNAs in Ziziphus jujuba
Summary
Zizyphus jujuba (common name Chinese Jujube) is an economically important fruit tree species in China, belonging to the family Rhamnaceae [1]. It is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for at least 3,000 years, because its fruit contains high vitamin C content, abundant phenolic compounds, carbohydrate, minerals, cyclic AMP and other important nutrients [1,2,3]. Jujube witches’-broom (JWB) disease is prevalent in China and causes serious problems to the industry [4] It is caused by phytoplasmas which are bacteria without cell walls that were first discovered in the phloem of plants in 1967 by Yoji Doi and co-workers [5]. Phytoplasmas are transmitted by phloem-sucking leafhoppers and Chinese Jujube plants infected with phytoplasmas display a variety of symptoms, such as small leaves, yellowing, witches’-broom, PLOS ONE | DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0166099 November 8, 2016
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