The ArWOX11-ArNRPM3 Module Decreases Drought Tolerance Through Abscisic Acid Signal Pathway in <i>Anoectochilus roxburghii</i>

Drought stress inhibits the growth and development of Anoectochilus roxburghii, and WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) transcription factors participate in plant growth and abiotic stress responses. However, the mechanism of the WOX-regulated drought response in A. roxburghii remains to be elucidated. Here, we identified the drought-responsive WOX transcription factor ArWOX11. Overexpression of ArWOX11 weakened drought resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana and A. roxburghii . ArWOX11 directly binds to the ArPP2C25 promoter (protein phosphatase 2C) and transcriptionally represses its expression. ArWOX11 interacts with itself and a novel regulator at the plasma membrane (NRPM) protein, ArNRPM3, in plants. Meanwhile, coexpression of ArWOX11 and ArNRPM3 enhanced the water loss rate and suppressed ArPP2C25 expression more than ArWOX11 alone, while abscisic acid (ABA) alleviated their inhibitory effect on ArPP2C25 . Overall, this study elucidates the function of the ArWOX11-ArNRPM3 module in the A. roxburghii drought response, providing insights into the action mechanism of WOX in plant drought adaptation.