Description
Functional RNAs in Plants explores the rapidly advancing field of plant RNA biology and its transformative role in modern agriculture. Covering microRNAs, small interfering RNAs, long noncoding RNAs, circular RNAs, and CRISPR-associated RNAs, the book explains their identification, design, structural and functional analysis, and applications in crop improvement.Chapters address both abiotic and biotic stresses, highlighting how functional RNAs regulate tolerance to climate-driven challenges as well as plant–microbe interactions and disease resistance. Technical sections detail progress in bioinformatics, integrated multi-omics, spatial and single-cell approaches, and high-throughput transcriptomics, which together provide new insights into RNA networks underlying plant stress responses. The book also discusses artificial small RNAs, secondary metabolism, and competing endogenous RNA systems, connecting mechanistic understanding with applied breeding strategies.Practical guidance is offered on integrating RNA knowledge into smart breeding, sustainable agriculture, and CRISPR-based innovations, with emphasis on designing and delivering functional guide RNAs for crop improvement. By combining foundational concepts with emerging applications, this volume serves as a valuable reference for academics, researchers, and advanced-level students in plant molecular biology and agricultural biotechnology.- Connects the biology of plant functional RNAs to breeding programs, helping translatediscoveries into resilient crop varieties- Brings together all major RNA types and CRISPR-associated RNAs in a single reference- Demonstrates how computational pipelines, multi-omics platforms, and structural analyses can be applied to functional RNA research, supporting reproducible and data-driven outcomes- Includes case studies and methods showing how RNA technologies support sustainable agriculture in real-world contexts
Table of Contents
1. Overview of plant functional RNAs: Emerging roles in crop improvement and breeding under changing climate2. Technical advancements in exploring plant functional RNAs: Identification and functional analysis3. Functional RNAs: Regulatory roles under abiotic stress and current applications in crop breeding4. Functional RNAs: Current findings in plant-microbe interactions and controlling plant diseases5. Non-coding RNAs: Critical regulators for plant growth, development and stress tolerance6.. Plant Small RNAs: Research progress and applications in regulating plant stress responses7. MicroRNAs: Promising targets for developing climate-resilient and abiotic stress-tolerant crops8. MicroRNAs: Coordinators in plant-pathogen interactions for plant disease resistance9. Small interfering RNAs: Key regulators of plant growth under abiotic stresses10. Small interfering RNAs: Potent silencing tools for plant protection11. Long non-coding RNAs: Regulatory mechanisms and applications in crop breeding facing global climate change12. Long non-coding RNAs: Involvement in plant-pathogen interactions and plant immunity13. Circular RNAs: Emerging regulators of plant abiotic stress responses14. Circular RNAs: Involvement in plant immunity responses against pathogens15. Multiple omics approaches in plant functional RNAs against abiotic stress16. Multiple omics technologies in studying plant-pathogen interactions unraveling the role of functional RNAs in crop protection17. Integrated bioinformatics tools for studying plant functional RNAs to regulate plant stress responses18. Single-cell and spatial multi-omics to dissect regulatory roles of plant functional RNAs under stress conditions19. High-throughput transcriptomics for uncovering the role of functional RNAs in mitigating plant stress responses20. Functional RNAs in regulating plant secondary metabolisms involved in combating diverse biotic stresses21. Artificial small RNAs for regulating plant development and stress responses22. Smart plant breeding based on the application of functional RNAs23. CRISPR and functional RNAs: Identification, functional analysis and delivery for plant stress tolerance24. Functional guide RNAs in CRISPR/Cas9: Constructions and applications for crop improvement25. Applied functional RNAs based on the CRISPR/Cas system for sustainable agriculture26. Uncovering plant regulatory networks involving competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs): Current achievements and prospects27. Structural and functional analysis of plant non-coding RNAs highlighting the advances in RNA structure
