WRKY19 — Triticum aestivum

Summary

TRAESCS1B02G440300, designated TaWRKY19 (also known as TaWRKY46 or WRKY19) on bread wheat chromosome 1B, encodes a WRKY domain-containing transcription factor with sequence-specific DNA-binding and protein homodimerization activity. The gene is associated with drought tolerance in wheat, as well as with defence responses to nematodes and insects, positive regulation of salicylic acid-mediated signalling, and abscisic acid-mediated signalling involved in stomatal movement. It has been linked to negative regulation of response to water deprivation, inhibition of defence response to bacteria, regulation of leaf senescence, and cellular respiration. Associations with agronomic traits include grain weight, grain yield, spike length, tiller number, plant height, anther length, spikelet length, days to maturity, leaf chlorophyll content, anthocyanin content, salinity tolerance, heat tolerance, stripe rust resistance, and root length. The protein localises to the nucleus and is connected to pathways including salicylate biosynthesis and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis.