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SlZAT5 and SlJIG Regulate Drought Tolerance Tolerance in Tomato by Modulating ABA Homoeostasis
Yafei Li1,2, Yiran Wang1, Chonghua Li1
1State Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilisation of Agricultural Water Resources, College of Horticulture, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
Plant, Cell & Environment
|August 5, 2026
Summary
Tomato plants enhance drought tolerance through the SlZAT5 and SlJIG proteins, which regulate abscisic acid (ABA) levels. This protein interaction helps maintain ABA homeostasis, crucial for plant survival under water-scarce conditions.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Molecular Genetics
- Agricultural Science
Background:
- Vegetable production is highly dependent on water availability, with drought significantly impacting crop yield.
- Abscisic acid (ABA) is a key phytohormone mediating plant responses to drought stress, primarily through stomatal regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the roles of SlZAT5 and SlJIG in tomato drought tolerance.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanism by which SlZAT5 and SlJIG regulate ABA homeostasis.
Main Methods:
- Drought stress treatments on tomato plants.
- Identification of protein interactions using Immunoprecipitation-Mass Spectrometry (IP-MS).
- Analysis of gene expression and promoter binding using quantitative PCR and promoter assays.
Main Results:
- Drought upregulated SlZAT5 and SlJIG, increasing ABA accumulation and drought tolerance.
- SlZAT5 and SlJIG interact and bind to the promoter of the ABA catabolism gene SlCYP707A3.
- SlZAT5 and SlJIG cooperatively repress SlCYP707A3 expression, enhancing ABA levels and drought tolerance.
Conclusions:
- The SlZAT5-SlJIG module plays a critical role in regulating tomato drought responses.
- This module controls ABA homeostasis by modulating the expression of ABA catabolism genes.
- Targeting this module offers potential for improving drought resilience in crops.
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