Identification of miRNAs and Their Target Genes Associated with Sweet Corn Seed Vigor by Combined Small RNA and Degradome Sequencing

High
seed vigor is significant for agriculture. Low seed vigor of sweet
corn hindered the popularization of sweet corn (Zea
mays L. saccharata Sturt).
To better understand the involvement and regulatory mechanism of miRNAs
with seed vigor, small RNA libraries from seeds non-artificially aged
and artificially aged for 2 days were generated by small RNA sequencing.
A total of 27 differentially expressed miRNAs were discovered, of
which 10 were further confirmed by real-time quantitative polymerase
chain reaction. Furthermore, targets of miRNAs were identified by
degradome sequencing. A total of 1142 targets that were potentially
cleaved by 131 miRNAs were identified. Gene ontology (GO) annotations
of target transcripts indicated that 26 target genes cleaved by 9
differentially expressed miRNAs might play roles in the regulation
of seed vigor, such as peroxidase superfamily protein targeted by
PC-5p-213179_17 playing a role in the oxidation–reduction process
and response to oxidative stress. These findings provide valuable
information to understand the involvement of miRNAs with seed vigor.