CaZAT10-CaWRKY11 module positively regulates pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) salt stress response

Salinity stress markedly impairs plant growth and yield. Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), a prominent economic horticultural species, demonstrates a pronounced sensitivity to saline conditions. However, the adaptive mechanism of pepper plants under salt stress remains largely unclear. This study explores the physiological function of the transcription factor CaZAT10 in modulating the responses of pepper to salt stress. Our results reveal that CaZAT10 is primarily localized in the nucleus, and its expression is significantly upregulated following salt exposure. The silenced CaZAT10 pepper plants exhibit increased sensitivity to salt stress. Furthermore, the CaZAT10-silenced pepper plants also present heightened reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentrations. We also show that CaWRKY11 acts as an interacting partner of CaZAT10. Silencing of CaWRKY11 also results in a comparable salt-sensitive phenotype and increased ROS levels, mirroring the observations in CaZAT10-silenced pepper plants. Collectively, our findings suggest that the CaZAT10-CaWRKY11 regulatory module plays a crucial role in regulating pepper's resistance to salt stress by maintaining ROS homeostasis.