Distinguishing reproductive phasiRNAs in grasses from other identically-sized small RNAs using machine learning methods

Small RNA libraries made from the rdr2/mop1 maize mutant, using RNA extracted from young ears (3 to 5 cm in length). Four libraries were constructed representing biological replicates. The mop1 mutant is depleted for heterochromatic siRNAs and enriched for 22-nt siRNAs of unknown function (as shown by Nobuta et al., 2008). These libraries were made in ~2010 but used for this study to assess the properties of the 22-nt, mop1-independent siRNAs. Overall design: Small RNA libraries made from the rdr2/mop1 maize mutant, using RNA extracted from young ears (3 to 5 cm in length). Four libraries were constructed representing biological replicates.