Oryza sativa Raw sequence reads. Oryza sativa

High temperature impairs starch biosynthesis in developing rice grains and thereby increases chalkiness, affecting the grain market value. Genome encoded microRNAs (miRNAs) fine-tune target transcript abundances in a spatio-temporal specific manner, and this mode of post-transcriptional gene regulation is critical for a myriad of developmental processes as well as stress responses. However, the role of miRNAs in maintaining rice grain quality/chalkiness during high daytime temperature (HDT) stress is relatively unknown. To uncover the role of miRNAs in this process, we used five contrasting rice genotypes (Cyp, Ben, and KB with low chalkiness under HDT and LaGrue and NB with relatively high chalkiness under HDT) and compared the miRNA profiles in the R6 stage caryopsis samples isolated from the plants subjected to prolonged HDT (onset of fertilization through R6 stage of caryopsis development).