Summary
This narrative review examines microRNAs as regulatory molecules governing plant stress responses and development. The authors discuss miRNA biogenesis and the mechanistic pathways through which miRNA–mRNA interactions modulate gene expression under abiotic stress conditions, with emphasis on drought, salt, cold, temperature and heavy metal tolerance. The review positions miRNA signalling as a potential target for crop genetic optimisation to enhance stress resilience and productivity.
Regional applicability
The molecular mechanisms described are universal across plant species, so findings are applicable to United Kingdom crop production. However, as this is a fundamental molecular biology review rather than a field study, direct implementation would require cultivar-specific research and regulatory pathway development appropriate to UK agriculture and biotechnology governance frameworks.
Key measures
Molecular mechanisms of miRNA production and regulation; miRNA-target gene interactions in abiotic stress pathways; potential for genetic manipulation of crop resilience
Outcomes reported
This narrative review synthesises current knowledge on microRNA biogenesis, regulation, and function in plant responses to abiotic stresses including drought, salinity, cold, heat, heavy metals and nutrient limitation. The paper describes molecular mechanisms by which miRNAs modulate target gene expression to enhance stress tolerance and proposes applications for crop genetic improvement.
Topic tags
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