Biotech Updates

TaNAC29 from Wheat Enhances Salt and Drought Tolerance in Arabidopsis

November 11, 2015

NAC (NAM, ATAF, and CUC) transcription factors plays important roles in plant biological processes, including plant development, and stress responses. Researchers led by Quanjun Huang and Yan Wang of Huazhong University of Science and Technology in China recently investigated the functions of NAC transcription factor of wheat (Triticum aestivum).

The NAC transcription factor gene from wheat, TaNAC29, was introduced in Arabidopsis. TaNAC29-overexpressing plants were then subjected to salt and drought stresses to examine gene functions. Transgenic plants exhibited enhanced tolerances to both salinity and dehydration.

In the greenhouse, transgenics also showed the same tolerance response to salt and drought stresses at both the vegetative and reproductive period, and had delayed bolting and flowering. The results show that TaNAC29 plays important roles in plant responses to salt and drought stresses.

To learn more about the study, read the full article in BMC Plant Biology.