丛枝菌根(AMF)可有效提高植物对根结线虫的抗性，但调控机制尚不清楚。miRNA在植物逆境胁迫应答中起重要的调节作用。前期研究发现，AMF诱导的番茄根结线虫抗性与miRNA差异表达密切相关。接种线虫后AMF可调控miR1030/160及其预测靶基因的表达，过表达miR1030和miR160分别降低和提高了番茄对线虫抗性。在此基础上，首先利用降解组测序获得靶基因，并利用5’-RACE 对所鉴定的靶基因验证。分析miR1030/160及其靶基因可能参与的信号途径，通过化学手段改变激素等重要信号分子水平，分析线虫抗性进而明确其上游信号分子。然后利用转基因和VIGS技术，分析过表达miR1030/160和沉默相应靶基因对关键信号分子及基因表达的影响，揭示其下游信号传导途径。研究可望阐明miR1030/160在AMF诱导的线虫抗性中的调控机制，为根结线虫的抗性调控提供理论与实践基础。

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can induce systemic resistance in plants against root-knot nematodes (RKN). However, the mechanisms of such systemic signaling and its regulation are largely unknown. Plant miRNAs function as systemic signals in response to biotic stress. Our previous studies have revealed that AMF-induced resistance against RKN is closely related to the expression of miRNA. 92 known miRNAs and 63 new miRNAs were screened based on Solexa sequencing. AMF affected the expression of miR1030/160 in tomato infected with RKN. Moreover, overexpression of miR1030/160 suppressed and enhanced tomato tolerance to RKN, respectively. Based on the previous study, the project will identify the target mRNAs of miRNAs on a whole genome scale by using high throughput degradome sequencing approach, and then further validation by RLM 5’-race. The involvement of potential signal pathways in the regulation of miR1030/160-targeted genes will be analyzed. Then the changes in miR1030/160, their target mRNAs and RKN resistance response to altered signals will be determined using chemical methods to Change the level of important signal molecules. Finally, the changes in downstream signaling cascades and key gene expressions as influenced by miR1030/160 overexpression and target gene silencing in plants will be analyzed to verify the roles of miRNA involved in feedback communication of AMF against RKN infection. Thus, the project aims to elucidating the role of miR1030/160 signal in AMF-induced resistance to RKN in tomato. Eventually, this study will provide a new useful tool for the regulation of RKN resistance in vegetable production.