WRKY23 — Brachypodium distachyon

Summary

BdWRKY23 (BRADI_2G19070V3) on chromosome 2 encodes a WRKY transcription factor with sequence-specific DNA binding, promoter-specific chromatin binding, and protein homodimerization activity, localizing to the nucleus. It is associated with the regulation of defense responses, responses to molecules of bacterial and fungal origin, chitin, jasmonic acid, ethylene, and salicylate. The gene is linked to abscisic acid and gibberellin signaling, including the downregulation of both pathways, and to the positive regulation of leaf senescence. Studies of related genes in other species connect the WRKY23 family to leaf blast disease response, disease susceptibility to Magnaporthe oryzae, and traits such as grain size, seed length, plant height, leaf angle, and grain yield.