Response of the Larix olgensis NAC transcription factor LoNAC2 to drought stress

accumulation, indicating enhanced ROS-scavenging capacity. This enhanced antioxidant capacity maintained stable chlorophyll content and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation. Transcriptome analysis showed significant upregulation of multiple key antioxidant and stress-response-related genes in transgenic plants, including NtSOD, NtPOD, Nt- GST, NtAPX, NtNCED1, and NtDREB1A. These genes synergistically promote stomatal closure via hormonal signaling pathways, such as abscisic acid (ABA), to reduce water loss, while simultaneously enhancing enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant capacities to effectively scavenge reactive oxygen species and mitigate oxidative damage. In summary, this study reveals the important role of LoNAC2 in regulating stomatal function and antioxidant defense, providing a valuable candidate gene for molecular breeding of drought tolerance in larch and other coniferous species.