High-throughput sequencing of endogenous small RNAs from the liverwort Pellia endiviifolia sp. B. Apopellia endiviifolia (species B)

Pellia endiviifolia sp.B is a dioecious, thaloid liverwort (Marchantiophyta) belonging to Jungermanniopsida class common for cool and moderate regions in most areas of northern hemisphere. This bright-green to blackish-green plants with red to black rhizoids on bottom of the thalli are found in shaded and moist locations, like spring banks, fens and wet meadows. Current knowledge about plant evolution suggests liverworts as the first group of land plants. As thalloid liverwort P.endiviifolia represents most likely the basal lineage of liverworts. MicroRNAs are a class of small RNAs regulating expression of vast amount of transcripts crucial for plant growth and develompent. Thus it can be suggested that microRNA played one of the main roles in the rapid adaptation and colonization of land by plants. The main goal of the project was characterization of miRNAome of the liverwort Pellia endiviifolia sp.B. Our analysis revealed that 311 miRNA families have their homologs in Pellia. Among them were 11 families conservative for all plant groups. Using small RNA identification method developed in our laboratory, we were able to identify and experimentally confirm 42 novel Pellia specific microRNAs. Overall design: total 5 samples from: in vitro (inv) cultures (3 samples) and natural habitat (environmental; env; 2 samples); in vitro plants – vegetative haploid thalli; natural habitat plants - vegetative haploid thalli producing sex organs with sporophytes included.