RNA interference and its research proceedings in plants

RNA interference (RNAi) is a phenomenon of posttranscription target gene silencing in organisms, in whcih the gene was silenced triggering by doublestranded RNA (dsRNA), and it is a new approach to conduct a research on gene function. The paper reviewed the discovery of RNAi phenomenon, its interference function and characters, induction methods and vector construction of the interference in plants, and research proceedings of gene functions and diseaseresistance by RNAi, and future development of its theory and application, which would provide some guidance for further studies.