Functional RNAs in Plants explores the rapidly advancing field of plant RNA biology and its transformative role in modern agriculture. Covering microRNAs, small interfering RNAs, long noncoding RNAs, circular RNAs, and CRISPR-associated RNAs, the book explains their identification, design, structural and functional analysis, and applications in crop improvement.
Chapters address both abiotic and biotic stresses, highlighting how functional RNAs regulate tolerance to climate-driven challenges as well as plant–microbe interactions and disease resistance. Technical sections detail progress in bioinformatics, integrated multi-omics, spatial and single-cell approaches, and high-throughput transcriptomics, which together provide new insights into RNA networks underlying plant stress responses. The book also discusses artificial small RNAs, secondary metabolism, and competing endogenous RNA systems, connecting mechanistic understanding with applied breeding strategies.
Practical guidance is offered on integrating RNA knowledge into smart breeding, sustainable agriculture, and CRISPR-based innovations, with emphasis on designing and delivering functional guide RNAs for crop improvement. By combining foundational concepts with emerging applications, this volume serves as a valuable reference for academics, researchers, and advanced-level students in plant molecular biology and agricultural biotechnology.
1. Overview of plant functional RNAs: Emerging roles in crop improvement and breeding under changing climate 2. Technical advancements in exploring plant functional RNAs: Identification and functional analysis 3. Functional RNAs: Regulatory roles under abiotic stress and current applications in crop breeding 4. Functional RNAs: Current findings in plant-microbe interactions and controlling plant diseases 5. Non-coding RNAs: Critical regulators for plant growth, development and stress tolerance 6.. Plant Small RNAs: Research progress and applications in regulating plant stress responses 7. MicroRNAs: Promising targets for developing climate-resilient and abiotic stress-tolerant crops 8. MicroRNAs: Coordinators in plant-pathogen interactions for plant disease resistance 9. Small interfering RNAs: Key regulators of plant growth under abiotic stresses 10. Small interfering RNAs: Potent silencing tools for plant protection 11. Long non-coding RNAs: Regulatory mechanisms and applications in crop breeding facing global climate change 12. Long non-coding RNAs: Involvement in plant-pathogen interactions and plant immunity 13. Circular RNAs: Emerging regulators of plant abiotic stress responses 14. Circular RNAs: Involvement in plant immunity responses against pathogens 15. Multiple omics approaches in plant functional RNAs against abiotic stress 16. Multiple omics technologies in studying plant-pathogen interactions unraveling the role of functional RNAs in crop protection 17. Integrated bioinformatics tools for studying plant functional RNAs to regulate plant stress responses 18. Single-cell and spatial multi-omics to dissect regulatory roles of plant functional RNAs under stress conditions 19. High-throughput transcriptomics for uncovering the role of functional RNAs in mitigating plant stress responses 20. Functional RNAs in regulating plant secondary metabolisms involved in combating diverse biotic stresses 21. Artificial small RNAs for regulating plant development and stress responses 22. Smart plant breeding based on the application of functional RNAs 23. CRISPR and functional RNAs: Identification, functional analysis and delivery for plant stress tolerance 24. Functional guide RNAs in CRISPR/Cas9: Constructions and applications for crop improvement 25. Applied functional RNAs based on the CRISPR/Cas system for sustainable agriculture 26. Uncovering plant regulatory networks involving competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs): Current achievements and prospects 27. Structural and functional analysis of plant non-coding RNAs highlighting the advances in RNA structure
Jen-Tsung Chen is a Professor of Cell Biology at the National University of Kaohsiung in Taiwan. He teaches cell biology, genomics, proteomics, plant physiology, and plant biotechnology. His research spans bioactive compounds, chromatography techniques, plant molecular biology and biotechnology, bioinformatics, and systems pharmacology. An active book and journal editor, he serves on editorial boards and has guest-edited special issues for several international journals. Dr. Chen has authored and edited books with international publishers on diverse topics including drug discovery, herbal medicine, medicinal biotechnology, nanotechnology, bioengineering, plant functional genomics, plant speed breeding, CRISPR-based plant genome editing, and artificial intelligence. In 2023 and 2024, he was listed by Elsevier and Stanford University among the 'World’s Top 2% Scientists' and also received the Springer Nature Editor of Distinction Award in 2025.
