JUNGBRUNNEN1, a Central Regulator of Plant Growth and Stress Response

Plants are under constant pressure to cope with ever-changing environmental conditions, requiring them to regulate their growth and stress response precisely. Transcription factors are key players in integrating stress-derived signals into developmental programs. One such transcription factor, JUNGBRUNNEN1 (JUB1), a member of the NAC family, has been identified as a central regulator of plant growth and stress responses. In this review, we discuss the structure of JUB1 and its recently identified alternatively spliced form and explore their potential modes of operation. We examine (i) how developmental and environmental cues regulate the expression of JUB1, (ii) its role as a negative regulator of leaf senescence while modulating tolerance to multiple abiotic and biotic stresses, and (iii) its function in regulating the trade-off between plant growth and defense. Furthermore, we provide insights into the regulation of JUB1, its interacting partners, and the potential conservation of its regulatory role across land plants. Given the climate crisis, we highlight the importance of identifying multitudinous stress response regulators such as JUB1 and emphasize the potential of its homologues in several important crop plants. Optimizing its application could make it an invaluable resource for improving crop resilience under changing climatic conditions.