Non-Coding RNAs in Plant Stress Responses and Their Implications for Agriculture

Year 2023, Volume: 4 Issue: 2, 52 - 63, 31.12.2023

Büşra Yirmibeş , Nur Ülger

Abstract

Agriculture's global significance encompasses food security, economic growth, preservation of biological diversity, and employment generation. However, the stresses such as abiotic and biotic stresses generate substantial challenges in terms of crop yield and quality. Plants respond to these stressors by means of physiological and genetic mechanisims. Notably, small non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as microRNAs (miRNAs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), play essential regulatory roles in adaptation to these stresses. Abiotic stresses include temperature, drought, and salinity and leading to changes in miRNA expression levels. miRNAs like miR167, miR159, and miR171 actively participate in salt, drought, and cold stress responses. Similarly, miR395 responds to sulfate deficiency stress, while miR399 is involved in phosphate homeostasis. Some biotic stresses, like pathogen infections, also affect miRNA modulation and resistance mechanisms siRNAs effectively contribute resistance to biotic stress such as pathogen, bacteria, fungi, virus and abiotic stresses. Virus-derived siRNAs (vsiRNAs) activate plant immunity, and on the other hand, in vitro synthesized siRNAs can be used in controlling pest. Heat stress triggers differential siRNA expression, particularly associated with flowering regulation, while plant species exhibiting drought tolerance display pronounced siRNA regulations in response to water deficiency. In conclusion, understanding plant responses to adverse stress conditions is pivotal for advancing plant resilience, yield, and quality. ncRNAs like miRNAs and siRNAs are key molecular players in these adaptation processes. When combined with gene editing technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9, these approaches offer promising strategies for developing stress-tolerant agricultural products. These strategies hold significant potential in supporting sustainable agriculture and addressing global food security challenges.

Keywords

Agriculture, microRNA, siRNA, plant stress

Bitki Stres Cevaplarında Kodlanmayan RNA’lar ve Tarımdaki Önemi

Abstract

Tarımın küresel önemi, gıda güvencesi, ekonomik büyüme, biyolojik çeşitliliğin sürdürülmesi ve istihdam sağlanması gibi çok yönlü katkıları içermektedir. Ancak, biyotik ve abiyotik stres unsurları, ürün verimliliği ve kalitesi açısından ciddi zorluklar sunmaktadır. Bitkiler, bu tür streslere fizyolojik ve genetik mekanizmalarla yanıt verirler. Özellikle mikroRNA'lar (miRNA'lar) ve küçük interferan RNA'lar (siRNA'lar) gibi küçük kodlamayan RNA'lar (ncRNA'lar), bu streslere adaptasyonda önemli düzenleyici roller üstlenirler. Abiyotik stres faktörleri arasında sıcaklık, kuraklık ve tuzluluk gibi faktörler bulunmaktadır ve bu faktörler miRNA ekspresyon düzeylerinde değişikliklere yol açarlar. miR167, miR159 ve miR171 gibi miRNA'lar tuz, kuraklık ve soğuk stres yanıtlarında etkin rol oynarlar. Aynı şekilde, miR395 sülfat eksikliği stresine, miR399 ise fosfat homeostazına yanıt verir. Patojen enfeksiyonları gibi bazı biyotik stresler de miRNA modülasyonunu ve direnç mekanizmalarını etkilemektedir. siRNA'lar, patojenler, bakteriler, mantarlar ve virüsler gibi biyotik streslere karşı direnç sağlamada etkin rol oynarlar. Virüs kaynaklı siRNA'lar (vsiRNA'lar), bitki bağışıklığını harekete geçirirken, in-vitro sentezlenen siRNA'lar zararlı organizmaların kontrolünde kullanılabilir. Isı stresi, özellikle çiçeklenme düzenlemesi ile ilişkilendirilen farklı siRNA ekspresyonunu tetiklerken, kuraklık toleransı gösteren bitki türleri su eksikliği yanıtlarında belirgin siRNA düzenlemeleri sergilerler. Sonuç olarak, bitkilerin olumsuz stres koşullarına verdiği tepkileri anlamak, bitki verimliliği, dayanıklılığı ve kalitesini artırmak açısından hayati önem taşır. miRNA'lar ve siRNA'lar gibi kodlanmayan RNA'lar, bu adaptasyon süreçlerinde kilit rol oynayan moleküler oyunculardır. CRISPR/Cas9 gibi gen düzenleme teknolojileri ile birleştirildiğinde, stres toleransına sahip tarım ürünleri geliştirme konusunda umut verici stratejiler sunar. Bu yaklaşımlar, sürdürülebilir tarımı desteklemek ve küresel gıda güvenliği zorluklarına çözüm sağlamak adına önemli bir potansiyel sunmaktadır.

Keywords

Tarım, miRNA, siRNA, bitki stresi

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