WRKY55 — Cicer arietinum

Summary

LOC101502928, designated CaWRKY55 on chickpea chromosome 2, encodes a WRKY domain-containing transcription factor that binds sequence-specific DNA and promoter cis-regulatory regions. It localises to the nucleus and mitochondria. CaWRKY55 is associated with defence responses to nematodes, insects, fungi, and bacteria, and with positive regulation of salicylic acid-mediated systemic acquired resistance. It is linked to negative regulation of response to water deprivation, downregulation of abscisic acid and gibberellic acid signalling, and regulation of brassinosteroid signalling. The gene has been connected to agronomic traits including days to maturity, seed weight, chlorophyll content, root length, and plant height, as well as to leaf senescence and pathogen resistance. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to salt tolerance.