In silico identification and validation of microRNAs from the genome of Solanum lycopersicum targeting Groundnut bud necrosis orthotospovirus

Tomato, an extensively cultivated edible crop is prone to many viral pathogens. Among them, bud necrosis incited by Groundnut bud necrosis orthotospovirus (GBNV) causes huge yield loss (80-100%). Out of all known strategies for viral disease management in plants, RNA interference (RNAi) mediated approaches have greater potential in managing viral diseases. Small RNAs especially microRNA (miRNA) play a major role in RNAimediated defense in plants. Using in silico analysis, we have identified the possible tomato encoded miRNA that have the potential to interact with GBNV-mRNA. The results revealed that, sly-MIR9479-3p, sly-MIR10529, sly-MIR397-5p, sly-MIR10528, sly-MIR477-3p, and sly-MIR6024 predicted by the computational algorithms viz., miRanda, psRNA target, RNA22 and RNA hybrid have the potential to interact with different GBNV-ORFs. Conserved complementary sequences of sly-MIR10529 and sly-MIR6024, targeting GBNV genome regions (ORF2 and ORF5), were confirmed in multiple GBNV isolates. The expression of Sly-miR-10529 (1.72-fold increase),Sly-miR-6024 (2.83-fold decrease) and their corresponding glycoprotein and coat protein gene expression were quantified through q-RT-PCR. These predicted miRNAs can offer useful information for the production of antiviral agents/RNAi mediated transgenic crop plants against GBNV in tomato.