The involvement of long non-coding RNAs in the formation of high temperature-induced grain chalkiness in rice

A period of exposure to high ambient temperatures can damage the process of grain filling in rice, potentially inducing the endosperm to become chalky. Given the established involvement of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in regulating plant development and its stress response, the purpose here was to reveal the extent to which lncRNA activity contributes to the endosperm chalkiness syndrome. Among 578 lncRNAs identified in spikelets harvested ten days after fertilization from plants exposed to high temperature stress, 14 were found to be significantly up-regulated expressed than in control plants, while 45 were significantly down-regulated expressed. Of these 59 differentially expressed lncRNAs, 32 were predicted as interacting with five mRNAs involved in starch metabolism and catabolism, indicating an involvement of these lncRNAs in starch formation in the endosperm, and hence in causing the chalkiness syndrome.