Identification microRNAs and target genes in Tibetan hulless barley to BLS infection

Tibetan hulless barley (Hordeum vulgare L. variety nudum Hook. f.) is widely grown on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, where it has served as a staple food for people since 5th century CE. Barley leaf stripe (BLS) one of most severe fungal diseases affecting yield and quality barley. Here, we compared miRNA profiles before after BLS in BLS-sensitive (‘Z1141’) tolerant (‘Kunlun14’) first time. A total 36 conserved 56 novel miRNAs were identified, which 24 differentially expressed found Z1141 Kunlun14, an additional 546 putative target genes predicted. Transcriptome sequencing analysis showed that among these genes, 131 normal infected leaves Kunlun14 Z1141. Gene ontology (GO), pathway, Blast analyses indicated 10 candidate including seven functional three transcription factors involved disease resistance. These two members CYP450 RGA gene, LIN SAM PSD NDB gene; factor all from WRKY family. regulated by eight (hvu-miR168-3p, hvu-miR171-5p, hvu-miR159b, hvu-miR156a, hvu-novel-91, hvu-novel-46, hvu-novel-52, hvu-novel-11). According to quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results, targets negatively correlated with their corresponding infection BLS. Thus, can be used improve resistance though breeding programs or genetic engineering.