Abstract

Genes for host-plant resistant do exist in cotton (Gossypium spp.) but improvement of cotton cultivars with resistance is difficult due to intensive breeding. Identifying molecular-genetic mechanisms associated with disease resistance can offer a new way to combat a serious threat such as Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum (FOV). Here, we captured and annotated “top-layer” of abundantly and specifically expressed cotton root small RNA (sRNA) including microRNA (miR) sequences during FOV pathogenesis using size-directed and adenylated linker-based sRNA cloning strategy. A total of 4116 candidate sRNA sequences with 16 to 30 nucleotide (nt) length were identified from four complementary DNA (cDNA) libraries of noninfected and FOV race 3-infected roots of susceptible (“11970”) versus resistant (“Mebane B-1”) cotton genotypes (G. hirsutum L.). The highest numbers of sRNA signatures were …