Molecular characterization of the effect of plant-based elicitor using microRNAs markers in wheat genome

Recent studies reported a significant contribution of microRNAs (miRNAs) in plant response to elicitors. The aim of our study was to analyse the effect of exogenously applied plant-derived elicitor cobalt-diglycyrrhizinate on Triticum aestivum L. genome based on the functional characterization of stress associated miRNAs. Our results confirmed the impact of cobalt-diglycyrrhizinate on plant genome in a way of plant response stimulation via expression of stress-related miRNAs markers. We found that both miRNAs markers (miR168 and miR395) are involved in response to plant-based elicitor stimuli. The role of miR168 and miR395 as functional markers sensitive to applied elicitors has been confirmed. Marker miR168 is suitable for the mapping of plant genome response to native elicitor, lower concentration of an elicitor is more suitable for plant immune system stimulation and its inappropriate concentrations may be toxic to the plant. Plant genome very sensitively reacts to elicitor stimuli and the question of the appropriate concentration and the time point of elicitor application are crucial.