Study the expression pattern of miR159 and miR171 under drought stress in peach, almond and GN

Micro RNAs are a class of small RNAs which dont code any protein, and they act as a negative regulator of gene expression in eukaryotes. miR159 and miR171 are the most important microRNAs playing a role in plant development and response to stress. In this study miR159 and miR171 were detected in peach, almond and GN leaf tissues. Two levels of drought stress was considered. RNA was extracted before (control) and after (stressed) the stress treatments and the miRNA stem–loop reverse transcription was accomplished. Expression level differences upon drought stress measured with qRT-PCR. To construct miRNA and target gene networks, RESNET Plant database of Pathway Studio software 7 (Ariadne Genomics, ELSEVIER) was used. The results indicated that miR159 and miR171 responded to stress and they targeted MYB33 and SCL6, respectively. MYB33 and SCL6 are involved in plant growth and development. Attenuated growth is a characteristic feature of plants subjected to stress, to slow down the metabolism and divert the resources for adaptation. miR159 and miR171 are involved in regulating plant growth and development, due to the nature of most of their target genes and their expression significantly changed in response to drought stress.