MicroRNAs Involved in the Pathogenesis of Phytophthora Root Rot of Soybean (Glycine max)

Phytophthora root rot is one of the most prevalent diseases in the world, which can infect the seedlings and plants, with substantial negative impact on soybean yield and quality. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression during growth and development of organisms. A soybean disease-resistance variety Suinong 10 was inoculated with Phytophthora sojae race No. 1, and the specific miRNA resistant expression profile was acquired by microarray for the first time. Different expressional miRNAs have been found after comparing the results of the treated sample with the control sample. Furthermore, the target genes of different expressional miRNAs were predicted. Two miRNAs, cbr-mir-241 and ath-miR854a, regulated the disease-resistance process directly through their targets, some enzymes. Another two miRNAs, gma-miR169a and ath-miR169h, participated in disease-resistance regulation as transcription factors. Similarly, one miRNA, ptc-miR164f, has been reported to regulate the plant development. All of these studies would be served as the foundation for exploring the resistance mechanism.