SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE (SVP) protein negatively regulates miR172 transcription via direct binding to the pri-miR172a promoter in Arabidopsis

► Increase in mature miR172 and pri-miR172a levels in svp mutants. ► Decrease in mature miR172 and pri-miR172a levels in SVP-overexpressing plants. ► Multiple transcription start sites of pri-miR172a. ► The pri-miR172a transcript starting with cytosine was abundant. ► Binding of SVP protein to the CArG motifs III and IV in the pri-miR172a promoter.