Role of Non-coding RNAs in Disease Resistance in Plants

Plants are prone to diseases caused by diverse pathogens. They respond through the modulation of molecular mechanisms at different levels. Alteration of gene expression is a major demonstration of plant defense machinery at the molecular level. In recent years, advancements in high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatic tools lead to the identification of various regulatory ncRNAs such as miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs. These ncRNAs emerged as direct or indirect regulators of gene expression through chromatin remodeling, transcriptional, and post-transcriptional regulation. Till date, studies revealed the extensive role of miRNAs and lncRNAs in providing disease resistance to plants. miRNAs target various defense-related genes and lncRNAs. Interestingly, both lncRNAs and circRNAs can also act as sponges for miRNAs and inhibit their action. Moreover, lncRNAs also act as precursors of various miRNAs. In brief, ncRNAs make complex and intermingled networks that can be exploited to enhance disease resistance in plants. However, exploration of more such networks is still needed. In this chapter, we discuss about features, discovery, and biogenesis, mechanism of action, and role of miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs in providing disease resistance to the plants.