Integrated microRNA and transcriptome profiling reveals a miRNA-mediated regulatory network of embryo abortion under calcium deficiency in peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

Background Peanut embryo development is a complex process involving a series of gene regulatory pathways and is easily affected by various elements in the soil. Calcium deficiency in the soil induces early embryo abortion in peanut, which provides an opportunity to determine the mechanism underlying this important event. MicroRNA (miRNA)-guided target gene regulation is vital to a wide variety of biological processes. However, whether miRNAs participate in peanut embryo abortion under calcium deficiency has yet to be explored.