Dehydration Stress-Responsive miRNA in Brachypodium distachyon: Evident by Genome-Wide Screening of microRNAs Expression

There is a lack of knowledge on the tissue-specific expression of miRNAs in response to dehydration stress in Brachypodium (Brachypodium distachyon (L.) Beauv), a model for temperate grass species. In this study, miRNA expression patterns of drought-tolerant Brachypodium were investigated using the miRNA microarray platform. A total of 205 miRNAs in control and 438 miRNAs in both drought-treated leaf and root tissues were expressed. Seven of the detected Brachypodium miRNAs were dehydration stress responsive. Expression levels of known drought-responsive miRNAs, miR896, and miR1867 were quantified by qRT-PCR in Brachypodium upon 4 h and 8 h dehydration stress applications. This was performed to compare drought responsiveness of miRNAs in closely related species. Target transcripts of selected drought responsive miRNAs, miR170, miR1850, miR896, miR406, miR528, miR390, were computationally predicted. Target transcript of miR896 was verified by retrieving a cleaved miR896 transcript from drought stress-treated leaf samples using a modified 5' RLM-RACE. Brachypodium dehydration responsive miRNA were also detected in barley and wild emmer wheat. Hence, the outcomes highlighted the conserved features of miRNA upon dehydration stress in Triticeae.