An elite allele TaDT1-AhapI enhances drought tolerance via mediating autophagic pathways in wheat

Drought stress constitutes a major threat to global wheat production. Identification of the genetic components underlying drought tolerance in wheat is highly important. Through a genome-wide association study, we identify a natural allele of the zinc finger-type transcription factor TaDT1-A on chromosome 2 A of the wheat genome that confers drought tolerance without imposing trade-offs between tolerance and yield. This allele, named TaDT1-AhapI, causes an 899-bp deletion in the promoter of the TaDT1-A gene, which results in increased expression of the gene through escape of the repressive MYC transcription factor and, consequently, the promotion of stomatal dynamics and water use efficiency via increased autophagy activity. Our findings provide genetic insights into the natural variation in wheat drought tolerance. The identified loci or genes can serve as direct targets for both genetic engineering and selection for wheat trait improvement.