microRNA accumulation from Cuscuta campestris in vitro haustoria

The parasitic plant Cuscuta campestris produces specialized microRNAs that are specifically expressed at the haustorial interface. Some of these "Interface-Induced MicroRNAs" function to target host mRNAs. C. campestris haustoria can be induced in the absence of any host tissues using a combination of light and physical pressure. This experiment tested with such in vitro, host-free haustoria produced interface-induced microRNAs. Small RNA-seq was performed from three different treatments: Shoot tips of C. campestris without any haustoria formation, in vitro haustoria formed in the presence of host tissue (detached leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana) and in vitro haustoria formed in the absence of any host tissue. Overall design: Three biological replicate libraries for each specimen type (shoot tips, in vitro haustoria with host, and in vitro haustoria without host) were prepared, for a total of nine sRNA-seq libraries.