Zhang Chunxia, Zhang Huanbo, Lin Wanping, Chai Jiahao, Shangguan Xiaoqing, Zhao Tianyong
National Key Laboratory of Crop improvement for Stress Tolerance and Production, College of Life Sciences, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712100, China.
Plant J. 2025 Jan;121(2):e17226. doi: 10.1111/tpj.17226.
DREB1A, a pivotal transcription factor, has long been known to regulate plant abiotic stress tolerance. However, its role in plant biotic stress tolerance and the underlying mechanisms have remained a mystery. Our research reveals that the maize ZmDREB1A gene is up-regulated in maize seedlings when the plants are infected by Rhizoctonia solani (R. solani). The maize ZmDREB1A knock-out mutant exhibits increased disease resistance against the pathogen R. solani. Further investigation showed that ZmDREB1A regulates salicylic acid (SA) metabolism by inhibiting ZmSARD1 gene and activating ZmSAGT gene expression. Additionally, the SA level was increased while the SAG level was decreased in zmdreb1a mutant seedlings when the plants were infected with the pathogen R. solani. Furthermore, overexpression of ZmSAGT in Arabidopsis reduced plant resistance to Pst DC3000 by decreasing SA levels and increasing SAG levels. These data demonstrate that ZmDREB1A regulates the metabolism of SA and controls plant immune response in maize.
DREB1A是一种关键的转录因子，长期以来一直被认为可调控植物对非生物胁迫的耐受性。然而，其在植物对生物胁迫的耐受性中的作用及潜在机制仍是个谜。我们的研究表明，当玉米幼苗被立枯丝核菌（R. solani）感染时，玉米ZmDREB1A基因在幼苗中上调表达。玉米ZmDREB1A基因敲除突变体对病原菌立枯丝核菌表现出增强的抗病性。进一步研究表明，ZmDREB1A通过抑制ZmSARD1基因并激活ZmSAGT基因表达来调控水杨酸（SA）代谢。此外，当感染病原菌立枯丝核菌时，zmdreb1a突变体幼苗中的SA水平升高而SAG水平降低。此外，在拟南芥中过表达ZmSAGT会通过降低SA水平和增加SAG水平来降低植物对丁香假单胞菌番茄致病变种（Pst DC3000）的抗性。这些数据表明，ZmDREB1A调控SA代谢并控制玉米中的植物免疫反应。
