Integrative roles of miRNAs and omics in crop responses to abiotic and biotic stresses

Abstract

Global agriculture is increasingly threatened by the combined impacts of abiotic stresses, including drought, salinity, temperature extremes, nutrient deficiencies, heavy metal toxicity, and flooding, as well as biotic stresses caused by pathogens and pests. These stresses account for substantial yield losses in major staple crops, posing serious risks to food security under changing climatic conditions. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as key post-transcriptional regulators that fine-tune gene expression networks governing plant growth, development, and stress adaptation. This review synthesizes current knowledge on miRNA biogenesis, modes of action, and their regulatory roles in coordinating plant responses to stresses. We highlight how advances in multi-omics technologies have enabled comprehensive dissection of miRNA-mediated regulatory networks. Integration of miRNA profiling with multi-omics datasets provides a systems-level understanding of stress-responsive pathways, revealing key regulatory hubs, molecular crosstalk, and stress memory mechanisms. The review also discusses computational tools and databases that facilitate miRNA discovery, target prediction, and data integration, while addressing current challenges related to data heterogeneity and computational complexity. By bridging fundamental biology with applied strategies, this review underscores the potential of integrated miRNA and omics approaches to accelerate the development of stress-resilient crops, supporting sustainable agriculture and global food security.