WRKY45 positively regulates salinity and osmotic stress responses in Arabidopsis

Salt damage is a major issue that causes a decline in crop yield. WRKY transcription factors (TFs) extensively regulate plant biotic and abiotic stress responses, growth, and development. WRKY45 is crucial in regulating leaf senescence, low phosphorus responses, and cadmium stress response in Arabidopsis. However, the involvement of WRKY45 in salinity and osmotic stress responses is unclear. Here, we report that WRKY45 plays a vital role in responding to salinity and osmotic stress. NaCl and sorbitol treatments upregulate WRKY45 expression. Furthermore, the overexpression of WRKY45 (WRKY45-OXs) may enhance the tolerance of Arabidopsis to salinity and osmotic stress. Moreover, the root length, fresh weight, chlorophyll, and proline content were significantly higher in WRKY45-OXs than in the wide type (WT) Col-0 plants after salt or PEG treatment, whereas malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were significantly lower than in the WT plants. Correspondingly, the overexpression of WRKY45 modulated the expression of stress-responsive genes. Dual luciferase assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay further confirmed that WRKY45 can activate the promoter of RD29A by directly binding to specific W-box cis-acting elements. Overall, our experimental evidence suggesting that WRKY45 mainly acts as a key regulator coordinating the response to high salinity and osmotic stress through mechanisms dependent on ABA signaling along with enhanced antioxidant capacity.