ABSTRACT
The plant genome encodes numerous non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), which play vital roles in regulating gene expression via transcriptional and post-transcriptional modulation. With rapid advancements in low-cost high-throughput sequencing, studies indicating the role of these ncRNAs have gained momentum. The role of microRNAs (miRNAs) and long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) in understanding the underlying molecular functions are today a routine research activity. NcRNAs influence their targets to form potentially subtle regulatory networks that control multiple genes to determine the overall response of plants. The information of miRNA-based research is well documented, but lncRNA and small interfering RNAs are relatively new and only few studies have been conducted toward understanding abiotic stress tolerance and adaptation mechanism in chickpea. In this chapter, we have compiled information on the categorical classification of non-coding RNAs based on their biogenesis and function. We also discuss the current understanding and role of these ncRNAs in imparting abiotic stress resilience in chickpea.
