Identification and profiling of microRNAs in Zea mays in response to Spodoptera frugiperda feeding

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous small noncoding RNAs (18–25 nt) that are involved in many physiological processes including development, cancer, immunity, apoptosis and host-microbe interactions through posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression. In this study, we measured the profile of small RNAs in Zea mays after one day and three days of Spodoptera frugiperda feeding. We identified 500 miRNAs, including 449 known and 51 novel miRNAs. In addition, we identified the miRNAs differentially expressed in Z. mays after one day and three days of S. frugiperda feeding, and the possible target genes were identified. This study identified critical miRNAs involved in the Z. mays during S. frugiperda feeding, thus providing a useful resource for exploring the regulatory role of miRNAs during plant-insect interactions. The microRNAs expression profile in Zea mays during Spodoptera frugiperda feeding