WRKY24 — Triticum aestivum

Summary

TRAESCS5A02G156700, designated TaWRKY44 (also known as WRKY24, WRKY57, or WRKY57-5A) on bread wheat chromosome 5A, encodes a WRKY domain-containing transcription factor that binds sequence-specific DNA and promoter regions. This nuclear protein is associated with the regulation of defense responses, including responses to bacteria, fungi, chitin, and salicylic acid, as well as the modulation of antifungal innate immunity. It is linked to gibberellin and abscisic acid signaling pathways, seed germination, and responses to jasmonic acid and ethylene. TaWRKY44 has been connected to agronomically important traits such as grain yield, grain weight, grain length and width, spike length, plant height, stripe rust resistance, chlorophyll content, osmotic adjustment capacity, and stomatal behavior. Studies of related genes in other species link the family to drought, osmotic stress, and salt tolerance, as well as spikelet number.