Identification of conserved microRNAs and their targets in the model legume Lotus japonicus

► Eighty potential miRNA candidates were identified in Lotus japonicus. ► Four sense and antisense miRNAs pairs belonged to four families of miR166, miR171, miR396, miR5025, respectively. ► The antisense miRNA Lja-miR171c was reverse complementary to the sense miRNA Lja-miR171a. ► qRT-PCR analysis indicated that miR156a, miR160a and miR399a may involve in seed germination of L. japonicus. ► We identified 735 potential targets, many of which involved in stress response, metabolism and signal transduction.