MicroRNA-mediated regularity functions under salinity stress in plants

Abstract Crop production under soil salinity is a chronic problem for food production, causing not only substantial yield losses but also compromising the quality of produce around the globe. An enormous increase in global population and demands for quality food require concerted research for improved and sustainable food production. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles by regulating a multitude of biological and metabolic processes in both model and crop plants. There is an explosive increase in miRNA research in plants during past few years. Several studies have highlighted the importance of miRNAs as among the most important gene regulators that not only control plant growth and development but also tackle biotic and abiotic stress responses in plants. Therefore, comprehensive understanding of miRNA mechanisms and their potential will lead to the design of functional strategies to modify desirable traits in crop plants. One such promising strategy would be miRNA-based genetic modification, which has the potential to contribute significantly to agricultural productivity. In this chapter, the authors highlight the importance of miRNAs as a potential resource for controlling and modulation of abiotic stresses, especially salinity stress. Furthermore, current progress in genome-wide identification, functional characterization, and validation of several stress-associated miRNAs is briefly summarized.