Cacao farmers often face challenges posed by black pod disease caused by Phytophthora spp., with P. palmivora being the most dominant. The objective of this study by Popi Septiani, Ph,D., Karlia Meitha, Ph.D., and their colleagues is to identify differentially expressed miRNAs in black pod-resistant and susceptible cacao varieties and to predict their targets in T. cacao and P. palmivora transcripts. In total, 54 known miRNAs from 40 miRNA families and 67 novel miRNAs were identified. Seventeen miRNAs were differentially expressed in susceptible variety compared to resistant one, with 9 miRNAs upregulated and 8 miRNAs downregulated. In T. cacao transcripts, the upregulated miRNAs were predicted to target several genes, including defence genes. The suppression of these defense genes can lead to a reduction in plant resistance against pathogen infection. In P. palmivora transcripts, the upregulated miRNAs were predicted to target several genes, including P. palmivora effector genes. In the future, limiting expression of miRNAs that target T. cacao’s defence genes and applying miRNAs that target P. palmivora effector genes hold promise for enhancing cacao plant resistance against P. palmivora infection.

Article Citation:
Septiani, P., Pramesti, Y., Ningsih, D. U., Pancaningtyas, S., Meitha, K. (2024). Identification of self- and pathogen-targeted miRNAs from resistant and susceptible Theobroma cacao variety to black pod disease. Scientific Reports14(3272). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-53685-x