MicroRNAs as modulators of water deficit responses in Medicago truncatula

Dissertação para a obtenção do grau de doutor em Biologia pelo Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica. Universidade Nova de Lisboa

General abstract The decrease in water availability is one of the main factors responsible for crop losses worldwide. In order to improve their tolerance to water deprivation, plants have developed a variety of morphological, biochemical and molecular adaptations that involve the modulation of gene expression. Over the last decade, small RNAs, namely microRNAs (miRNAs), have been shown to participate in these mechanisms in several plant species. However, little is known about their role in legumes, a plant family of high economical and ecological value.(...)