Investigating the expression of miR160 and miR393 and their regulatory role in stimulating the growth of sugarcane aerial roots

Waterlogging is one of the abiotic stresses that reduce the growth and productivity of sugarcane. Sugarcane is relatively tolerant to waterlogging however the damage to this plant related to genotypes, environmental conditions, stage of development and the duration of stress. Due to the lack of sufficient information on the regulatory role of miRNAs and their target genes in the response of sugarcane to waterlogging stress, based on the results of studies in model and related plants such as sorghum, miR160 and miR393 and their target genes i.e. AEF17 and AFB2, their selection and expression were investigated using qRT-PCR method in two varieties CP48-103 and CP69-1062 under treatment of 7 and 14 days of waterlogging stress compared to control plants. The results of comparing the relative expression showed that miR160 and miR393 had an increased expression in both varieties under stress conditions, and their negative inhibition role in reducing the expression of the target genes, i.e. ARF17 and AFB2, was revealed. The role of negative regulation of miR160 and miR393 on ARF17 and AFB2 genes were more in 14 days stress, also this role was more prominent in CP69-1062 variety compared to CP48-103 variety.