Non Coding Region of Barley Genome; miRNA Diversity.

Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is one of the world’s most important cereal crops and is also focus of many plant biological studies. Many plant microRNAs (miRNAs) as post transcriptional gene regulators have been identified to date. In this study, in-silico analysis of miRNA were carried out by taking advantage of whole genome shotgun sequences of three different barley genome assemblies, including Barke, Bowman and Morex cultivars. Thirty-one mature miRNA sequences have been found in all three barley genome assemblies whereas there is cultivar specific miRNA. For instance, miR5384 was found in only Morex cv. Fourteen miRNAs which their homologues were previously found in other plant species, including Brachypodium distachyon, Orzya sativa, Triticum aestivum, and Zea mays, have been identified as barley miRNAs. Validation of some of the miRNAs was performed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). These miRNAs and target gene analyses will give a new sight to determine functions of miRNAs in plant biological processes for future studies.