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A SnRK2-HAK regulatory module confers natural variation of salt tolerance in maize

Author

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  • Ming Zhang

    (China Agricultural University
    Henan University
    Henan University)

  • Xueyan Zhou

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Limin Wang

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Xiaoyan Liang

    (China Agricultural University)

  • Xin Liu

    (Qingdao Agricultural University)

  • Caifu Jiang

    (China Agricultural University
    China Agricultural University
    Frontiers Science Center for Molecular Design Breeding)

Abstract

The exclusion of sodium ions (Na+) from the shoot tissue, termed shoot Na+ exclusion, underlies a core mechanism of crop salt tolerance. Recent studies have shown that the HAK (High-Affinity K+ Transporter) family Na+ transporters play a key role in shoot Na+ exclusion of various crops, however, it is unknown whether and how this type of transporter is post-transcriptionally regulated. Here, we show that two closely related SnRK2 kinases, designated as ZmSnRK2.9 and ZmSnRK2.10, promote shoot Na+ exclusion and salt tolerance by activating the Na+ transporter ZmHAK4 in maize. Under salt conditions, the kinase activity of ZmSnRK2.9 and ZmSnRK2.10 is activated, then they interact with and phosphorylate ZmHAK4 at Ser5, increasing the Na+ transport activity of ZmHAK4, which in turn promotes salt tolerance by improving the exclusion of Na+ from the shoot tissue. Furthermore, we show that a 20-bp deletion that occurred naturally in the ZmSnRK2.10 promoter decreases its transcript level, resulting in an increased shoot Na+ content under salt conditions. Our findings support a breeding program that can utilize the favorable alleles of ZmHAK4 and ZmSnRK2.10 to enhance both the transcriptional and post-transcriptional activation of ZmHAK4, thus advancing the development of salt-tolerant maize.

Suggested Citation

  • Ming Zhang & Xueyan Zhou & Limin Wang & Xiaoyan Liang & Xin Liu & Caifu Jiang, 2025. "A SnRK2-HAK regulatory module confers natural variation of salt tolerance in maize," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-13, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-59332-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59332-x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hiroaki Fujii & Viswanathan Chinnusamy & Americo Rodrigues & Silvia Rubio & Regina Antoni & Sang-Youl Park & Sean R. Cutler & Jen Sheen & Pedro L. Rodriguez & Jian-Kang Zhu, 2009. "In vitro reconstitution of an abscisic acid signalling pathway," Nature, Nature, vol. 462(7273), pages 660-664, December.
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