Genome-wide association studies identify OsWRKY53 as a key regulator of salt tolerance in rice

Abstract Salinity stress progressively reduces plant growth and productivity, while plant has developed complex signaling pathways to confront salt stress. However, only a few genetic variants have been identified to mediate salt tolerance in the major crop rice, and the molecular mechanism remains poorly understood. Here, we identify ten candidate genes associated with salt-tolerance (ST) traits by performing a genome-wide association analysis in rice landraces. We characterize two ST-related genes, encoding transcriptional factor OsWRKY53 and Mitogen-activated protein Kinase Kinase OsMKK10.2, that mediate root Na + flux and Na + homeostasis. We further find that OsWRKY53 acts as a negative modulator…

• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 31872806, 31522046
• CA
  Chinese Academy of Sciences
• FR
  Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities

  Award: JCQY201901
• NI
  Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
• IO
  Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
• IO
  Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
• IO
  Institute of Genetics