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HAM1 negatively regulates drought tolerance in Brassica juncea
Yiqing Meng1, Zhuting Liu1, Jianeng Che1
1Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Molecular Breeding, College of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
BMC Plant Biology
|June 17, 2026
Summary
Drought stress threatens crops. Researchers identified BjuB.HAM1 as a gene that reduces drought tolerance in Brassica juncea, offering targets for breeding more resilient crops.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Genetics
- Agronomy
Background:
- Climate change intensifies drought stress, impacting global crop yields.
- Brassica juncea is a vital crop for arid regions, but its drought resilience mechanisms are unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify genetic factors controlling drought tolerance in Brassica juncea.
- To elucidate the role of the GRAS transcription factor BjuB.HAM1 in drought response.
Main Methods:
- Phenotypic evaluation of diverse Brassica juncea accessions under drought stress.
- Genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify candidate genes.
- Heterologous expression in Arabidopsis thaliana and gene promoter analysis.
Main Results:
- A GRAS transcription factor, BjuB.HAM1, was identified as a negative regulator of drought tolerance.
- Two structural variations in BjuB.HAM1 were found to significantly reduce drought tolerance.
- BjuB.HAM1 was shown to inhibit the expression of AtUGT76C2, a cytokinin glycosyltransferase, thereby decreasing drought tolerance.
Conclusions:
- BjuB.HAM1 acts as a key inhibitor of drought tolerance in Brassica juncea.
- Understanding BjuB.HAM1's regulatory function provides insights into drought resistance mechanisms.
- This study offers valuable genetic targets for improving drought resistance in Brassica juncea breeding programs.
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