Small RNAs

Small RNAs have a demonstrated and important role in plant development, stress responses, and epigenetic regulation primarily through their role in transcriptional and post-transcriptional silencing of specific target genes and other loci. While most studies have been limited to Arabidopsis, the little that is known about small RNA diversity and evolution suggests that miRNAs are a well-conserved gene regulatory system dating back to lower plants and green algae.

small RNAs from Musa acuminata 'calcuta 4' were sequenced in leaf, flower and fruit tissues within the framework of a NSF project  (http://smallrna.udel.edu). Data and analyses tools are available on the website of the project.