Revolutionary Role of Non-coding RNA in Gene Expression Modulation: Current Status and Future Prospects in Plant Breeding

Non coding RNAs is a hub of functionally active endogenously produced small molecules, regulating gene expression at transactional and post transcriptional level via cleavage or translational inhibition of mRNA. Diverse forms of ncRNAs have been discovered up-till now with shared or differential biogenesis pathways. Irrespective of biogenesis pathway, ncRNAs played their diverse role in plant stress tolerance against biotic and abiotic stress and plant architecture remodeling in a species and stress dependent or independent manner. Current investigations have been focused on functional characterization and identification of ncRNAs target genes involved in various biological functions of plants. Advancement in sequencing techniques and genome editing tools predominantly played their role in the discovery of ncRNAs mechanism of action and regulation at the molecular level. Loss of function/knockdown or gain of function/overexpression and CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing are among the powerful techniques to elucidate the exact function of ncRNAs and their target genes. Identification and modulation of species and stress specific ncRNAs and their target gene may aid into transgene free crop remodeling and precision breeding in future.