Abstract The role of protein-encoding genes in determining phenotype is well established, whereas the impact of small RNAs in regulating horticultural traits is being gradually recognized. Small RNAs are small noncoding RNAs of 20–24-nt, which regulate target genes by post-transcriptional regulation or de-novo DNA methylation. In plants, small RNAs are classified into the following two major categories, microRNA (miRNA) and short interfering RNA (siRNA). Most small RNA research focuses on model plants (e.g. Arabidopsis, tomato and rice), and has identified the function of small RNAs on plant development (e.g. meristem organization, leaf development, flower organ identity and transition to flowering). Recently, small RNA sequencing has been applied to study gene regulation in horticultural crops. Plant specific small RNA (miRNAs and phasiRNAs) families have similar function across model plants to horticultural crops. In addition, most plants have unique nonconserved small RNAs, which might affect specific traits. This review focuses on small RNA biogenesis, function prediction and the roles of small RNAs in horticultural traits (e.g. flowering, fruit quality, abiotic and biotic stress), and summarizes small RNA information for future horticultural crop research and breeding.

中文翻译：

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对园艺性状有重大影响的小 RNA

摘要 蛋白质编码基因在决定表型中的作用已经确立，而小 RNA 在调节园艺性状方面的影响正在逐渐被认识到。小 RNA 是 20-24-nt 的非编码小 RNA，通过转录后调控或从头 DNA 甲基化来调控靶基因。在植物中，小RNA分为以下两大类，微RNA（miRNA）和短干扰RNA（siRNA）。大多数小 RNA 研究集中在模式植物（如拟南芥、番茄和水稻）上，并已确定小 RNA 对植物发育（如分生组织、叶片发育、花器官特征和向开花过渡）的功能。最近，小RNA测序已被应用于研究园艺作物的基因调控。植物特异性小 RNA（miRNA 和 phasiRNA）家族在模式植物和园艺作物中具有相似的功能。此外，大多数植物具有独特的非保守小 RNA，这可能会影响特定性状。这篇综述的重点是小 RNA 的生物发生、功能预测和小 RNA 在园艺性状（例如开花、果实品质、非生物和生物胁迫）中的作用，并总结了小 RNA 信息，以供未来园艺作物研究和育种使用。