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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2021.07.30.454429

Exploring the miRNA-mediated response to combined stresses in melon plants

Villalba-Bermell, P.·Marquez-Molins, J.·Marques, M.-C.·Hernandez-Azurdia, A.·Corell-Sierra, J.·Pico, B.·Monforte, A. J.·Elena, S. F.·Gomez, G.
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Abstract

Climate change has been associated with a higher incidence of combined adverse environmental conditions that can promote a significant decrease in crop productivity. However, knowledge on how a combination of stresses might affect plant development is still scarce. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been proposed as potential targets for improving crop-productivity. Here, we have combined deep-sequencing, computational characterization of responsive miRNAs and validation of their regulatory role in a comprehensive analysis of melons response to several combinations of four stresses (cold, salinity, short day, and infection with a fungus). Twenty-two miRNA families responding to double and/or triple stresses were identified. The regulatory role of the differentially expressed miRNAs was validated by quantitative measurements of the expression of the corresponding target genes. A high proportion (ca. 60%) of these families (mainly highly conserved miRNAs targeting transcription factors) showed a non-additive response to multiple stresses in comparison with that observed under each one of the stresses individually. Among those miRNAs showing non-additive response to stress-combinations, most interactions were negative suggesting the existence of functional convergence in the miRNA-mediated response to combined stresses. Taken together, our results provide compelling evidences that the response to combined stresses cannot be easily predicted from the study individual stresses.

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Villalba-Bermell, P., Marquez-Molins, J., Marques, M.-C., Hernandez-Azurdia, A., Corell-Sierra, J., Pico, B., Monforte, A. J., Elena, S. F., Gomez, G.. 2021-07-31. Exploring the miRNA-mediated response to combined stresses in melon plants. https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.07.30.454429

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