Abstract:Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and small RNAs such as microRNAs (miRNAs) and short interference RNAs (siRNAs), exist widely in eukaryotes and affect gene expressions at different levels. In plant, ncRNAs are involved in growth, development, response to biotic and abiotic stresses, and are important players in epigenetics. RNA interference (RNAi) refers to homology gene silencing caused by double strand RNAs (dsRNAs) and is a major mechanism of gene expression regulation by ncRNAs. Since discovery, RNAi has been developed as a powerful technology for genetic analysis, gene therapy, and plant protection. In this review, we summarize the recent progresses in research of the function and mechanism of ncRNAs in plant defense pathways and discuss the application of RNAi technology in agricultural pest control.