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Crosstalk Between the SlNAC48/SlNAC89-SlXTH23 Module and ABA Signalling Enhances Drought Tolerance in Tomato by
Tao Liu1,2, Lin Dong1,2, Kexin Lu1,2
1College of Horticulture, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China.
Physiologia Plantarum
|August 5, 2026
Summary
Drought stress suppresses tomato SlXTH23 gene expression, impacting drought tolerance. Transcription factors SlNAC48/SlNAC89 regulate SlXTH23, interacting with abscisic acid signaling to control drought response.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Drought stress significantly limits crop productivity worldwide.
- Xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolases (XTHs) are implicated in plant drought tolerance.
- The role of tomato SlXTH23 in drought response was previously unknown.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the function of SlXTH23 in tomato drought tolerance.
- To elucidate the regulatory mechanism of SlXTH23 under drought stress.
- To explore the interaction between SlXTH23, transcription factors, and abscisic acid (ABA) signaling.
Main Methods:
- Gene expression analysis under drought stress.
- Generation and analysis of SlXTH23-overexpression and knockout tomato lines.
- Protein-DNA interaction assays (e.g., ChIP-qPCR).
- Gene silencing experiments (RNAi) for SlNAC48 and SlNAC89.
- Abscisic acid (ABA) quantification and analysis of ABA-deficient mutants.
Main Results:
- Drought stress suppressed SlXTH23 expression.
- SlXTH23 overexpression reduced drought tolerance, while knockout enhanced it.
- SlNAC48 and SlNAC89 directly bind and repress the SlXTH23 promoter.
- SlNAC48/SlNAC89 silencing decreased ABA content and increased stomatal aperture.
- ABA deficiency reduced drought tolerance and increased stomatal aperture and SlXTH23 expression.
Conclusions:
- Drought stress induces SlNAC48/SlNAC89 to repress SlXTH23, restricting stomatal aperture.
- The SlNAC48/SlNAC89-SlXTH23 module interacts with ABA signaling.
- ABA acts synergistically with this module to improve drought tolerance in tomato.
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