miRNA expression profiles of the tuberous root development at seedling stages in turnips

The tuberous root of Brassica rapa L. (turnip) is an important modified organ for nutrition storage. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the process of tuberous root development is of great value in both economic and biological context. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of 21–24 nucleotide (nt) non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level in many important biological processes. However, whether miRNAs are involved in the regulation of tuberous root development is still unclear. Here, we analyzed the miRNAs expression profiles of tuberous roots at different seedling stages in turnips using high-throughput sequencing technology, in order to get insight in to the underlying molecular mechanisms that regulate tuber formation and development in the Brassica species.