Functions of wheat ncRNAs in pathogen defense and stress adaptation

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent research on non-coding RNAs in wheat, focusing on their roles in defending against pathogens and adapting to stress.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of wheat ncRNAs and integrates multi-omics data to support crop improvement strategies.

Findings

Wheat ncRNAs, especially lncRNAs and small RNAs, are crucial in biotic and abiotic stress responses.

A framework combining molecular characteristics and stress responses was developed for ncRNA analysis.

Multi-omics data integration offers new strategies for wheat genetic improvement.

Abstract

In organisms, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are key regulatory elements that modulate, the expression of genes involved in diverse biological traits. Among them, micro RNAs (miRNAs), small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have become major research focuses. Wheat, the world’s most widely grown crop, occupies 17% of global cultivated land and supplies ∼55% of the world’s carbohydrates. Understanding the roles, identification, and mechanisms of wheat ncRNAs is essential for both basic research and crop improvement. Through systematic searches of PubMed, Web of Science, and EndNote databases, this study identified 182 publications related to wheat ncRNAs. Based on predefined criteria—research relevance and publication timeframe (2015–2025)—70 high-quality studies were selected for in-depth analysis. This review comprehensively summarizes recent advances in ncRNA research (focusing on lncRNAs and small RNAs) in relation to wheat diseases, pests, and responses to biotic and abiotic stress. By integrating traditional classification with functional characterization, we developed a comprehensive analytical framework encompassing “molecular characteristics-biotic stress–abiotic stress”. Furthermore, this review consolidates multi-omics high-throughput data and online ncRNA databases. The integration of multi-omics technologies aims to provide both a theoretical foundation and novel strategies for wheat genetic improvement.

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