Small RNA analysis using high-throughput sequencing and virus investigation in bamboo (phyllostachys edulis)

The leaves of Phyllostachys edulis were harvested for RNA extraction, a sRNA library was constructed and sequenced by using the Solexa high-throughput sequencing technology. Bioinformatics was performed to identify the sRNAs and viruses. RT-PCR and RACE techniques were explored to identify and confirm the viruses or viroid in bamboo. The assembly of sRNA in all samples revealed that a sequence which covered 91.0% of rice tungro bacilliform virus (RTBV) genome existed widely in bamboo samples. Meanwhile, 1992bp DNA sequence which covered 24.9% of RTBV completed genome was amplified and no polymorphism was observed in this samples. It concluded that RTBV virus may exist in planta in ancient time and was late integrated into the plant genomes against the RTBV infection.