Regulation of Plant-Microbe Interaction Through RNAi

The conventional methods of addressing plant pathogens, such as crop protection and resistant varieties, have been complemented by advancements in plant-microbe interactions. The field has witnessed significant progress in genetic engineering, gene transfer technologies, and omics approaches such as transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. These advancements offer insights into plant metabolic pathways, key gene associations, and regulatory mechanisms. Plant genome manipulation, empowered by these technologies, is a key focus for researchers aiming to develop disease-resistant cultivars and gain a deeper understanding of complex metabolic processes. Recent breakthroughs in understanding small noncoding ribonucleic acids (sRNAs) have opened new avenues for RNA-mediated functions in plants. sRNAs, acting as regulatory molecules, trigger RNA interference (RNAi), a mechanism pivotal in gene expression regulation. The host RNAi machinery, with its well-defined structure, plays a crucial role in balancing plant immunity and growth. By suppressing specific genes before translation, RNAi disrupts target messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules. While sRNAs predominantly function endogenously, some can traverse organism boundaries, influencing gene expression in interacting organisms. This review focuses on recent discoveries elucidating the regulatory role of RNAi in plant-microbe interactions and its applications in managing plant diseases.