WRKY24 — Triticum aestivum

Summary

TaWRKY24 (TRAESCS3A02G347500) on wheat chromosome 3A encodes a WRKY domain-containing transcription factor with DNA-binding, calmodulin-binding, protein kinase, and transcriptional co-regulator activities. The gene is associated with diverse biological processes including jasmonic acid/ethylene-dependent systemic resistance, regulation of salicylic acid metabolism, abscisic acid-mediated stomatal movement, cellular thermotolerance, and melatonin anabolism. It is linked to agronomically important traits such as grain number, grain weight, days to heading and flowering, stripe rust disease response, salinity tolerance, heat tolerance, leaf chlorophyll content, anthocyanin content, root length, and germination rate. The protein localizes to the nucleus, cytoplasm, mitochondria, and cell plate. Studies of related genes in other species connect this gene family to pathogen defense, salt and drought stress responses, leaf senescence, flowering time, and grain size regulation.