MicroRNA networks in rice seeds: unveiling key regulators of development, germination, and rice resilience under climate changes.
Boccaccini A, Cucinotta M, Molinari M, Mansuri RM, De Gara L
Summary
8.0/10Tiny regulatory molecules called microRNAs control how rice seeds develop and help rice survive climate stress. Understanding these molecular controls could enable scientists to breed rice varieties that thrive in challenging climates, safeguarding food security for the billions of people who depend on rice as a staple food.
Key Findings
MicroRNAs regulate rice seed development and germination by modulating gene expression in auxin and abscisic acid hormone signaling pathways
MicroRNAs control cell proliferation during rice seed reproduction and germination processes
MicroRNA networks integrate environmental and hormonal signals to orchestrate plant adaptation to climate stress and enhance rice resilience
Original Abstract
Climate change threatens global food security by compromising the growth and development of major crops like rice, a staple food for over half of the world's population. Ensuring sustainable agricultural production in increasingly challenging environments requires a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating plant stress responses. Given the central role of seed physiology in crop establishment and yield, investigating the key regulators of seed reproduction, development, and germination offers opportunities to enhance agricultural productivity and strengthen global food security. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as crucial post-transcriptional regulators, controlling fundamental developmental processes and orchestrating plant adaptation to environmental challenges. Recent studies highlight their role in rice seed development and germination, where they modulate gene expression in signaling pathways of hormones, including auxin and abscisic acid, as well as cell proliferation. Understanding these regulatory networks is essential for advancing rice seed biology, enhancing rice resilience, optimizing yield, and mitigating environmental stress. This review explores miRNA-mediated regulation of rice seed physiology, from reproduction to germination, focusing on the role of miRNAs in integrating environmental and hormonal signals. By highlighting the potential role of miRNAs in optimizing key agronomic traits, this review aims to support ongoing efforts to develop targeted strategies to improve crop adaptation to climate change.
Species Mentioned
Rice is a cereal grain and in its domesticated form is the staple food of over half of the world's population, particularly in Asia and Africa. Rice is the seed of the grass species Oryza sativa —or, much less commonly, Oryza glaberrima. Asian rice was domesticated in China some 13,500 to 8,200 y...
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