The OsMYB60-OsGL1-11 module regulates drought tolerance in rice

Drought is one of the severe environmental constraints that limit crop growth and productivity, posing a significant threat to global food security. To resolve drought-induced yield losses, breeding stress-resilient crops is of paramount importance. Prior to breeding, identification of drought-responsive genes and elucidation of their functions are urgent steps. Here, we reveal that OsGL1-11, a member of the GLOSSY1 (GL1) family involved in wax synthesis, is identified as a key regulator in the drought stress response. osgl1-11 mutants exhibit a pronounced drought-sensitive phenotype. This phenotype might be caused by the reduction of wax crystals on its leaf surface, which consequently compromises the plant's water retention capacity. OsMYB60 is a transcriptional activator; we further demonstrate that OsMYB60 directly binds to the promoter region of OsGL1-11 and enhances its expression. In summary, our results reveal that the OsMYB60-OsGL1-11 module synergistically enhances drought tolerance by regulating cuticular wax accumulation in rice leaves. These findings provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying drought resistance and expand the genetic resources for molecular breeding of drought-resilient rice varieties.