Plant Aux/IAA Gene Family: Significance in Growth, Development and Stress Responses

Auxin plays a crucial role throughout the entire life cycle of plants. The auxin/indole-3-acetic acid (Aux/IAA) gene family serves as a negative regulator of auxin response and is one of the earliest auxin-responsive gene families. It regulates the expression of auxin-responsive genes by specifically binding to auxin response factors. This review summarizes the protein structural characteristics of the Aux/IAA gene family and its typical and atypical transduction mechanisms in auxin signaling. Additionally, it examines the role of Aux/IAA in regulating plant growth and development, as well as its function in modulating plant resistance to abiotic stress through hormonal signaling pathways. Our findings indicate that the Aux/IAA gene family plays a significant role in plant growth and development, as well as in abiotic stress resistance. However, research on the functional roles of the Aux/IAA gene family in crops such as rice, wheat, and maize remains relatively scarce. Furthermore, we identified key questions and proposed new research directions regarding the Aux/IAA gene family, aiming to provide insights for future research on plant hormone signaling and molecular breeding in crop design.