ABSTRACT
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate the expression of target genes in a sequence-specific manner. miRNAs have been shown to play a vital role in almost all biological processes. In plants, several agricultural traits are significantly influenced by miRNAs including growth, reproduction, biomass production, grain yield, and biotic and abiotic stresses. Abiotic stress negatively affects the plant productivity, hence the molecular basis of it needs to be investigated. Altered expression patterns of miRNAs in response to a wide range of abiotic stress conditions such as extreme temperatures, drought, salinity, oxidative stress, hypoxia, and nutrient deficiency, have been reported in several plants. These studies suggest the involvement of miRNA in combating abiotic stress responses and shows the potential of miRNAs, to use them as targets for developing abiotic stress-tolerant crop plants. Therefore, here, we describe the current status and future perspective of developing abiotic stress resistance crop plants using miRNA as key targets.
