High throughput deep sequencing elucidates the important role of lncRNAs in Foxtail millet response to herbicides.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play an important function in plant growth and development as well as response to stresses. However, little information was known in foxtail millet; no study was reported on lncRNAs in plant response to herbicide treatment. In this study, by using deep sequencing and advanced bioinformatic analysis, a total of 2547 lncRNAs were identified, including 787 known and 1760 novel lncRNAs. These lncRNAs are distributed across all 9 chromosomes, and the majority were located in the intergenic region with 1-2 exons. These lncRNAs were differentially expressed between different genotypes under different herbicide treatments. lncRNAs regulate plant growth and development as well as response to herbicide treatments through targeting protein-coding genes that directly relate to chemical metabolism and defense system. Multiple potential target genes and lncRNA-mRNA-miRNA gene networks were discovered. These results elucidate the potential roles of lncRNAs in plant response to herbicides.