Phylogenomic Analysis of micro-RNA Involved in Juvenile to Flowering-Stage Transition in Photophilic Rice and Its Sister Species.

Vegetative to reproductive phase transition in phototropic plants is an important developmental process and is sequentially mediated by the expression of micro-RNA . To obtain insight into the evolution, adaptation, and function of in photophilic rice and its wild relatives, we analyzed the genescape of a 100 kb segment harboring homologs from 11 genomes. The expression analysis of revealed its incremental accumulation from the 2-leaf to 10-leaf stage, with maximum expression coinciding with the flag-leaf stage in rice. Nonetheless, the microsynteny analysis of s revealed collinearity within the genus but a loss of synteny was observed in (i) A in (AA) and (AA); (ii) B in (FF); and (iii) C in O. (BB). Phylogenetic analysis of precursor sequences/region of revealed a distinct tri-modal clade of evolution. The genomic information generated in this investigation through comparative analysis of suggests mature s to have evolved in a disruptive and conservative mode amongst all species with a common origin of descent. Further, the phylogenomic delineation provided an insight into the adaptation and molecular evolution of to changing environmental conditions (biotic and abiotic) of phototropic rice through natural selection and the opportunity to harness untapped genomic regions from rice wild relatives (RWR).