FIGURE 7.

A possible internal regulation pathway of four species of maize novel miRNAs in response to salt stress. DR, down-regulation; UR, up-regulation. When the maize was under salt stress, the expression of four novel miRNAs (mir-250, mir-205, mir-330, and mir-17) is down-regulated in the leaves or roots of maize; then, their targets, such as casein kinase II, Gpx, P5CS, IF-1, and some other genes are up-regulated, and thereafter, some salt tolerant pathways are activated to adapt to salt stress.