MicroRNAs (
miRNAs) play essential roles in a vast array of biological processes, including growth and development, defense against
viral infection, and responses to environmental changes in plant. Wheat hybrid
necrosis is an interesting genetic phenomenon observed frequency and it is lethal or semi lethal, resulting in gradual death or loss of productivity. However, the molecular basis and mechanisms associated with hybrid
necrosis in wheat are still not well understood. Here, we report the population and expression profiles of
miRNAs in wheat hybrid
necrosis. We identified a total of 57 conserved
miRNA families as well as 182 putative novel
miRNAs. Expression profiling revealed that expression of 49 known
miRNAs and 165 novel
miRNAs was changed in hybrid
necrosis. And the expression levels of some
miRNAs and their predicated targets have been confirmed by qRT-PCR. These results indicate that these
miRNAs, especially miR159, miR166, miR167 and miR5072 could be involved in the extensive regulation of gene expression in response to hybrid
necrosis.