P. PhookaewS. NetrphanP. SojikulJ. NarangajavanaMahidol UniversityThailand National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology2018-11-092018-11-092014-01-01Biologia Plantarum. Vol.58, No.3 (2014), 469-478000631342-s2.0-84906078606https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/33120Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is an important crop and it is significantly affected by water stress. The computational analysis of cis-regulatory elements in promoter regions of 21 drought-responsive miRNA gene families and 35 miRNA-target genes in cassava indicated some elements relevant to drought stress responses. To investigate the role of miRNAs and target genes in responses to a water deficit in cassava in more detail, in vitro plantlets were subjected to an imitated water deficit by 40 % polyethylene glycol. Using RT-qPCR, the differential expression of the cassava miR164/MesNAC and miR167/MesARF6/8 were observed to be associated with changes in the leaf shape, stomatal closure, and relative water content. The modified 5′-RNA ligase-mediated rapid amplification of cDNA-end (5'RLM-RACE) experiment confirmed MesNAC and MesARF8 as the in vivo-target genes of miR164 and miR167, respectively, in cassava leaf. The possible functions of miR164 and miR167-target genes in response to water deficit are discussed. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.Mahidol UniversityAgricultural and Biological SciencesArticleSCOPUS10.1007/s10535-014-0410-0