Research progress on biological functions of lncRNAs in major vegetable crops

Abstract

With the advances in genomics and bioinformatics, particularly the extensive application of high-throughput sequencing technology, a large number of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been discovered, of which long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) refer to a class of transcripts that are more than 200 nucleotides in length. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that lncRNAs play significant roles in a wide range of biological processes, including regulating plant growth and development as well as modulating biotic and abiotic stress responses. Although the study of lncRNAs has been a hotspot of biological research in recent years, the functional characteristics of plant lncRNAs are still in their initial phase and face great challenges. Here, we summarize the characteristics and screening methods of lncRNAs and highlight their biological functions in major vegetable crops, including tomato, Brassica genus crops, cucumber, pepper, carrot, radish, potato, and spinach, which are implicated in the interaction of lncRNAs and miRNAs. This review enhances the understanding of lncRNAs' roles and can guide crop improvement programs in the future.