Harnessing plant non-coding RNAs for sustainable agriculture: integrating stress responses, nutrient dynamics, and plant–microbe interactions

Emerging ncRNA technologies hold great promise in alleviating current agricultural production predicaments by revealing previously unappreciated complexities of ncRNA-mediated regulation of gene expression and cellular homeostasis. Here, the latest discoveries concerning ncRNA diversity and functionality that could contribute towards a more sustainable agriculture were reviewed. This article is categorized by major ncRNA categories which include: microRNAs (miRNAs), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), small interfering RNA (siRNA), Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA), Natural antisense transcripts (NATs), Circular RNAs (circRNAs) and ceRNAs. In addition, it summarizes each ncRNA category and their unique mechanisms of action in the plant kingdom. Because ncRNAs are involved in how plants deal with biotic and abiotic stress, mineral and nutrient acquisition, phytoremediation/ecosystem services and epigenetic regulation as well as genome editing/genetic engineering, they have the ability to improve crop yield, strengthen abiotic stress resistance, and allow for more efficient use of resources. Many recent developments in the field of computational biology and NGS technologies have aided in the identification of plant ncRNAs and their biological function. Additionally, recent technological advancements in ncRNA design, synthesis, delivery and bioavailability have made agricultural translation of this knowledge more plausible. Nevertheless, there are still many obstacles that must be overcome. These include but are not limited to: effective and targeted delivery of RNA, minimizing off-target effects, long term biosafety and regulatory clearances, validation of performance under varying field conditions and ethical and financial concerns of ncRNA-based agricultural technologies. Combined, these efforts will allow ncRNA-based agricultural technologies to become a crucial component of sustainable and environmentally friendly farming.