TaWRKY17 Interacts With TaWRKY44 to Promote Expression of <i>TaDHN7</i> for Salt Tolerance in Wheat

Wheat is a crucial food crop, yet its production is continually threatened by abiotic stresses, particularly salt stress. Understanding the molecular mechanisms by which wheat responds to salt stress is essential for developing salt-tolerant varieties. In this study, we investigated the molecular pathway involving the wheat TaDHN7 in response to salt stress. The overexpression of TaDHN7 enhances salt tolerance and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging in wheat, while the knockout of TaDHN7 significantly impairs salt tolerance. Furthermore, we identified that TaWRKY44 promotes the expression of TaDHN7 by binding to the W-box within the TaDHN7 promoter. Additionally, TaWRKY17 interacts with TaWRKY44, and this interaction enhances the protein stability of TaWRKY44 under salt stress, thereby enhancing its transcriptional regulatory capacity on TaDHN7. This study elucidates the TaWRKY17-TaWRKY44-TaDHN7 pathway in response to salt stress in wheat, providing valuable insights for the development of salt-tolerant wheat cultivars.