“Mirador” on the potential role of miRNAs in synergy of light and heat networks

Light and temperature are two major environmental factors influencing plant growth and development. High temperature caused by increasing global warming and greenhouse gases has become a worldwide concern. In plants, it triggers various morphological, biochemical and physiological changes that adversely influence growth and development leading to substantial decrease in crop yield. The declining food production and the requirements of the rapidly growing population pose further threat to global food security. Plants have elaborate genetic and epigenetic regulatory mechanisms to endure through the unfavorable abiotic conditions. The induction of heat stress response at the genetic level involves de-regulation of transcription factors and chaperones which play an indispensable role in acclimation to heat. The epigenetic regulation includes induction or repression of specific microRNAs (miRs) that target a variety of transcripts. This is a signature response by plants that is observed in almost all stresses such as high light intensities, drought and salinity. Since earlier reports have indicated a strong relationship between light and temperature signaling pathways in plants, so their integration in influencing the miR based regulatory networks needs to be elucidated. Here we present the mirador (window designed to command an extensive outlook) on the potential role of miRs in regulating plant growth and development in synergistic response to light and heat networks.