In the most recent years, each of the RNA silencing pathways of plants have appeared to generate ncRNAs with dedicated functions, specialized biological activities and specific functional scopes. RNA silencing plays a crucial role in coordinating the expression, stability, protection and inheritance of eukaryotic genomes. It compromises several mechanisms, that invariably depend on core small non coding RNAs and that achieve dedicated sequence-specific functions. RNA silencing has been recognized to carry critical developmental, stress-response and bodyguard functions be coordinating the expression, protection, stability and inheritance of virtually all eukaryotic genomes. Thus, the ncRNAs encompass a wide set of mechanisms that achieve specialized functions.

From the contents: Preface

Quantification of Small Non Coding RNAs May Allow Accurate Comparisons of MiRNA Expression Profiles from Plant Specimens
Host small RNAs and Plant Innate Immunity
Antisense Transcription Associated with MicroRNA Target mRNAs
Post-Transcriptional Modifications of Plant Small RNAs
Non coding RNAs and Gene Silencing in Grape
Genome-Wide Analysis of RNA Degradation in Arabidopsis
Small RNA Inheritance in Hybrids and Allopolyploids
Phased Small RNAs in Rice
Small RNA in Legumes
Physcomitrella patens Small RNA Pathways
Small RNA Pathways and Their Function in the Male Gametophyte
Regulatory Roles of Novel Small RNAs from Pseudogenes
Polyadenylation in RNA Degradation Processes in Plants
Viroids and RNA Trafficking in Plants