miRNAs are a type of conserved, small RNA molecule that regulate gene expression and play an important role in the growth and development of plants. miRNAs are involved in seed germination, root development, shoot apical meristem maintenance, leaf development, and flower development by regulating various target genes. However, the role of miRNAs in the mechanism of tea plant flower sterility remains unclear. Therefore, we performed miRNA sequencing on the flowers of fertile male parents, female parents, and sterile offspring. A total of 55 known miRNAs and 90 unknown miRNAs were identified. In the infertile progeny, 37 miRNAs were differentially expressed; 18 were up-regulated and 19 were down-regulated. miR156, miR157, miR164, miR167, miR169, miR2111 and miR396 family members were down-regulated, and miR160, miR172 and miR319 family members were up-regulated. Moreover, we predicted that the 37 differentially expressed miRNAs target a total of 363 genes, which were enriched in 31 biological functions. We predicted that miR156 targets 142 genes, including ATD1A, SPL, ACA1, ACA2, CKB22 and MADS2. We detected a large number of differentially expressed miRNAs in the sterile tea plant flowers, and their target genes were involved in complex biological processes. Among these miRNAs, the down-regulation of miR156 may be one of the factor in the formation of sterile floral buds in tea plants.

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基于小RNA测序的茶树不育花蕾相关miRNA的鉴定和表征

miRNA是一类保守的小RNA分子，可调节基因表达，在植物生长发育中发挥重要作用。miRNA通过调控多种靶基因参与种子萌发、根发育、茎尖分生组织维持、叶发育和花发育。然而，miRNA在茶树花不育机制中的作用仍不清楚。因此，我们对可育的父本、母本和不育后代的花进行了 miRNA 测序。共鉴定了 55 个已知 miRNA 和 90 个未知 miRNA。在不育后代中，有 37 种 miRNA 差异表达；18个上调，19个下调。miR156、miR157、miR164、miR167、miR169、miR2111和miR396家族成员下调，miR160、miR172 和 miR319 家族成员上调。此外，我们预测 37 个差异表达的 miRNA 共靶向 363 个基因，这些基因富含 31 个生物学功能。我们预测 miR156 靶向 142 个基因，包括 ATD1A、SPL、ACA1、ACA2、CKB22 和 MADS2。我们在不育的茶树花中检测到大量差异表达的miRNA，其靶基因参与复杂的生物学过程。在这些miRNA中，miR156的下调可能是茶树不育花芽形成的因素之一。我们在不育的茶树花中检测到大量差异表达的miRNA，其靶基因参与复杂的生物学过程。在这些miRNA中，miR156的下调可能是茶树不育花芽形成的因素之一。我们在不育的茶树花中检测到大量差异表达的miRNA，其靶基因参与复杂的生物学过程。在这些miRNA中，miR156的下调可能是茶树不育花芽形成的因素之一。