Advances in Small RNA Regulation of Female Gametophyte Development in Flowering Plants

Liu, Yanfen; He, Qing; Su, Han; Xi, Xinpeng; Xu, Xiaoyuan; Qin, Yuan; Cai, Hanyang

Abstract

Female gametophyte development in flowering plants is a highly intricate process involving a series of tightly regulated biological events, including the establishment and differentiation of a macrospore mother cell (MMC), the formation of a functional macrospore (FM), and the subsequent development of the embryo sac. The seamless progression of these events is crucial for the completion of sexual reproduction and the alternation of generations in plants. Small RNAs are ubiquitously present in eukaryotic organisms. Based on their biogenesis, function, and involvement in biological pathways, plant small RNAs are primarily categorized into four classes: miRNAs (microRNAs), ta-siRNAs (trans-acting-siRNAs), hc-siRNAs (heterochromatic-siRNAs), and nat-siRNAs (natural antisense transcript-derived siRNAs). Current studies show that small RNAs play an important role in plant reproductive development, such as female gametophyte development and ovule development. In this review, we systematically elucidate the biogenesis and molecular mechanism of small RNAs and summarize the latest research advances on their roles in regulating megasporogenesis and megagametogenesis in plants. The aim of this review is to provide insights into the mechanisms underlying plant reproductive development through the lens of small RNAs, offering a theoretical foundation for improving crop quality, yield, genetic improvement, and breeding.

Citation

Liu, Y., He, Q., Su, H., Xi, X., Xu, X., Qin, Y., & Cai, H. (2025). Advances in Small RNA Regulation of Female Gametophyte Development in Flowering Plants. Plants, 14(9), Article 1286. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14091286

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 21, 2025
• Online Publication Date: Apr 23, 2025
• Publication Date: Apr 23, 2025
• Deposit Date: May 20, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: May 20, 2025
• Journal: Plants
• Electronic ISSN: 2223-7747
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 14
• Issue: 9
• Article Number: 1286
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/plants14091286
• Keywords: ovule development, female gametophyte, megasporogenesis, siRNA, megagametogenesis, miRNA, ta-siRNA, angiosperms
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/3944777