Identification and validation of plant miRNA from NGS data-an experimental approach.

miRNAs are class of endogenously initiated noncoding RNAs, which are most critical in gene expression and regulation at posttranscriptional level. They do so either by cleavage of the target mRNA or by translational repression. miRNAs are being given enough attention in recent years because of its role in myriad developmental processes including tumorogenesis and host-pathogen interaction. Advent of Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology and computational approach made it possible to pinpoint the precise role of miRNA and their target. Identification of miRNAs and their target has several approaches depending on efficiency, cost and time. The present review summarizes the developments in the field of plant miRNA w.r.t. to experimental approaches that are being followed to identify and validate the miRNAs and their targets.