title: High-Throughput MicroRNA and mRNA Sequencing Reveals That MicroRNAs May Be Involved in Melatonin-Mediated Cold Tolerance in Citrullus lanatus L.
abstract: Transcriptional regulation of cold-responsive genes is crucial for exogenous melatonin-mediated cold tolerance in plants. Nonetheless, how melatonin regulates cold-responsive genes is largely unknown. In this study, we found that exogenous melatonin improved cold tolerance in watermelon by regulating expression of microRNAs (miRNAs). We identified a set of miRNAs that were regulated by melatonin under unstressed or cold conditions. Importantly, mRNA-seq analysis revealed that melatonin-induced downregulation of some miRNAs, such as miR159-5p, miR858, miR8029-3p, and novel-m0048-3p correlated with the upregulation of target genes involved in signal transduction (CDPK, BHLH, WRKY, MYB, and DREB) and protection/detoxification (LEA and MDAR) under cold stress. These results suggest that miRNAs may be involved in melatonin-mediated cold tolerance in watermelon by negatively regulating the expression of target mRNAs.
authors: Department of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University Yangling, China.
authors: Hao
authors: H
authors: Li
authors: Department of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University Yangling, China.
authors: Yuchuan
authors: Y
authors: Dong
authors: Department of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University Yangling, China.
authors: Jingjing
authors: J
authors: Chang
authors: Department of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University Yangling, China.
authors: Jie
authors: J
authors: He
authors: Department of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University Yangling, China.
authors: Hejie
authors: H
authors: Chen
authors: Department of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University Yangling, China.
authors: Qiyan
authors: Q
authors: Liu
authors: Department of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University Yangling, China.
authors: Chunhua
authors: C
authors: Wei
authors: Department of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University Yangling, China.
authors: Jianxiang
authors: J
authors: Ma
authors: Department of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University Yangling, China.
authors: Yong
authors: Y
authors: Zhang
authors: Department of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University Yangling, China.
authors: Jianqiang
authors: J
authors: Yang
authors: Department of Horticulture, Northwest A&F University Yangling, China.
authors: Xian
authors: X
authors: Zhang
keywords: cold stress; high-throughput sequencing; melatonin; microRNA; watermelon