ZmPRR37-ZmYSL14 module enhances salt stress tolerance in maize.

Maize YSL gene ZmYSL14 enhances salt tolerance in maize. Our findings demonstrate that ZmPRR37-ZmYSL14 module promotes salt stress tolerance in maize. Environmental challenges, particularly soil salinity, have severely impacted maize production worldwide. Yellow Stripe-Like (YSL) is a subfamily of oligopeptide transporter, and there is limited reporting on its role in salt stress response. In this study, we screened an Ac/Ds mutant library and identified a salt-sensitive line, K17-16H876. Further characterization revealed that the Ds element was inserted into the coding region of Zm00001d054041 (ZmYSL14), which encodes a YSL protein. The zmysl14 mutant exhibited increased salt sensitivity, while ZmYSL14 overexpression lines displayed enhanced salt tolerance. Yeast one-hybrid screening identified a PRR transcription factor, ZmPRR37, which has previously been reported to enhance salt stress tolerance in maize. Dual-luciferase assays and RT-qPCR analysis indicated that ZmPRR37 promotes the expression of ZmYSL14. Our findings suggest the ZmPRR37-ZmYSL14 module enhances salt tolerance in maize. This research enriches the functional understanding of YSL family genes and provides valuable genetic resources for breeding new salt-tolerant maize varieties.