ThNAC13, a NAC Transcription Factor from , Confers Salt and Osmotic Stress Tolerance to Transgenic and .

NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2) proteins play critical roles in many plant biological processes and environmental stress. However, NAC proteins from have not been functionally characterized. Here, we studied a gene from . , in response to salt and osmotic stresses. ThNAC13 is a nuclear protein with a C-terminal transactivation domain. ThNAC13 can bind to NAC recognized sites and calmodulin-binding NAC (CBNAC) binding element. Overexpression of in improved seed germination rate and increased root growth and fresh weight gain under salt or osmotic stress. Transgenic . plants transiently overexpressing and with RNAi-silenced were generated for gain- and loss-of-function experiments. Following exposure to salt or osmotic stress, overexpression of induced superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activities, chlorophyll and proline contents; decreased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde levels; and reduced electrolyte leakage rates in both transgenic and plants. In contrast, RNAi-silenced showed the opposite results in transgenic . Furthermore, induced the expression of s and s in transgenic . These results suggest that ThNAC13 improves salt and osmotic tolerance by enhancing the ROS-scavenging capability and adjusting osmotic potential.