Maize microRNAs differentially expressed in response to Aspergillus flavus infection
Maize is a major food crop worldwide. It is susceptible to the fungus infection that causes accumulation of carcinogenic toxin. Previous studies have used several approaches to identify genetic elements with potential roles in toxin resistance, but there is a lack of research identifying the involvement of small RNAs such as micro RNAs in maize A. flavus interaction. miRNAs play a major role in regulating the expression of genes controlling the plants immune system. In this study, we compared the miRNA profiles of three maize lines such as TZAR102, MI82, and Va35 at 8 h, 3 d, and 7 d after A. flavus infection to investigate miRNAs with possible regulatory antifungal roles. A total of 316 miRNAs belonging to 115 miRNA families were identified in response to the fungal infection across all three maize lines. Of these, 82 unique miRNAs were significantly differentially expressed. Thirty nine miRNAs exhibited temporal differential regulation irrespective of genotype. These miRNAs potentially targeted 544 genes involved in diverse molecular functions, of which majority were members of transcription factor binding gene families, such as myeloblastosis, squamosa promoter binding protein, nuclear transcription factor Y subunit A3, and auxin response factors.