A Novel <scp>miRNA</scp> tae‐ <scp>miR1714</scp> Targeting the Chitin Receptor <scp>TaLYK5</scp> Suppresses Plant Disease Resistance

ABSTRACT Plants have evolved sophisticated defence mechanisms against microbial pathogens, including the regulation of defence genes by microRNAs (miRNAs). Lysin motif (LysM) receptors, acting as chitin sensors within pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), play a key role in plant immunity. In this study, we performed miRNA sequencing of wheat ( Triticum aestivum ) infected with Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) races CYR23 and CYR34 and identified tae‐miR1714 as a miRNA significantly downregulated following CYR23 infection. Functional analyses through gene silencing and overexpression revealed that tae‐miR1714 acts as a negative regulator of disease resistance. Through a YFP fluorescent reporter system and a dual‐luciferase assay, we confirmed that tae‐miR1714 directly targeted TaLYK5, a LysM receptor‐like kinase. Furthermore, knockdown of TaLYK5 in wheat impaired its resistance against Pst. This study provides the first evidence that a novel miRNA, tae‐miR1714, directly targets a plant chitin receptor to negatively regulate immunity. These findings provide new insights into the regulatory roles of miRNAs in wheat–Pst interaction and establish the tae‐miR1714–TaLYK5 module as a potential target for engineering durable disease resistance in wheat. Overall, this study offers valuable strategies for protecting crops against the devastating effects of this disease.