A long non-coding RNA is involved in response to UV-B stress.

(moso bamboo) is China's most widespread bamboo species, with significant economic and ecological values. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) is a type of regulatory RNA that is longer than 200 nucleotides and incapable of encoding proteins, and is frequently involved in regulating biotic and abiotic stress and plant development. However, the biological functions of lncRNA in moso bamboo are unknown. In this study, a lncRNA (named ) differentially expressed following UV-B treatment was discovered in the whole transcriptome sequencing database of moso bamboo. The target genes were filtered and defined by correlation analysis of and gene expression pattern. The expression levels of and its target genes were verified using qRT-PCR. The results demonstrated that the expression levels of and its target genes increased during UV-B treatment. In transgenic seedlings and moso bamboo protoplasts, was discovered to influence the expression of its target genes when overexpressed. In addition, transgenic showed higher tolerance to UV-B stress. These results suggest that and its target genes are involved in the response of moso bamboo to UV-B stress. The novel findings would contribute to our understanding of how lncRNAs regulate the response to abiotic stresses in moso bamboo.