Maize WRKY Transcription Factor ZmWRKY79 Positively Regulates Drought Tolerance through Elevating ABA Biosynthesis.

ABSTRACT: Drought stress causes heavy damages to crop growth and productivity under global climatic changes. Transcription factors have been extensively studied in many crops to play important roles in plant growth and defense. However, there is a scarcity of studies regarding WRKY transcription factors regulating drought responses in maize crops. Previously, ZmWRKY79 was identified as the regulator of maize phytoalexin biosynthesis with inducible expression under different elicitation. Here, we elucidated the function of ZmWRKY79 in drought stress through regulating ABA biosynthesis. The overexpression of ZmWRKY79 in Arabidopsis improved the survival rate under drought stress, which was accompanied by more lateral roots, lower stomatal aperture, and water loss. ROS scavenging was also boosted by Zm

SUBMITTER: Gulzar F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8468953 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature