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OsCDR1 Mediates ABA-BR Antagonism to Enhance Drought Tolerance in Rice
Haitao Wang1, Shijie Chen1, Qimanguli Abudureyimi1
1Jilin Province Engineering Laboratory of Plant Genetic Improvement, College of Plant Science, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry
|July 2, 2026
Summary
Plants use survival strategies for extreme environments. This study reveals how Abscisic acid (ABA) enhances drought resistance by antagonizing Brassinosteroid (BR) signaling through the OsCDR1 transcription factor in rice.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Plants transition to survival mode under environmental stress.
- The molecular mechanisms regulating plant drought tolerance are not fully understood.
- Brassinosteroid (BR) and Abscisic acid (ABA) are key plant hormones involved in stress responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the molecular regulatory network governing the transition from growth to survival mode in plants under drought stress.
- To investigate the antagonistic interaction between Brassinosteroid (BR) and Abscisic acid (ABA) in regulating drought tolerance.
- To identify key transcription factors and signaling pathways involved in ABA-mediated drought resistance.
Main Methods:
- Drought tolerance assays in rice.
- Analysis of gene expression and protein interactions.
- Investigating the role of transcription factor cold and drought resistance 1 (OsCDR1).
- Studying the regulation of glycogen synthase kinase3 (OsGSK3) and dwarf and low-tillering (DLT).
Main Results:
- Brassinosteroid (BR) negatively regulates drought tolerance in a concentration-dependent manner.
- Abscisic acid (ABA) enhances drought resistance by antagonizing BR signaling.
- The transcription factor OsCDR1 is essential for ABA-enhanced drought resistance.
- OsCDR1 activates OsGSK3 transcription and alleviates DLT's inhibition on OsGSK3, thereby negatively regulating BR signaling.
Conclusions:
- A novel ABA-OsCDR1-BR regulatory module governs drought responses in rice.
- OsCDR1 acts as a crucial link mediating the antagonistic effects of ABA and BR in drought stress.
- Understanding this regulatory module provides insights into improving crop resilience to drought.
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