Characterization of microRNA-like RNAs associated with sclerotial development in Sclerotinia sclerotiorum

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a model necrotrophic pathogen that causes great economiclosses worldwide. Sclerotia are dormant structures that play significant biological andecological roles in the life and disease cycles of S. sclerotiorum and other species ofsclerotia-forming fungi. microRNA-like RNAs (milRNAs) as non-coding small RNAsplay crucially regulatory roles in fungal development and pathogenicity. Therefore,milRNAs associated with sclerotial development in S. sclerotiorum were investigatedin this study.