Structural and functional insights into NAC transcription factors in tomato stress responses and development

In natural environments, the growth and development of plants are frequently impeded by a variety of stresses. These can be categorized into biotic stresses, such as those caused by fungi and bacteria, and abiotic stresses, including factors like low temperature, drought, and salinity (Zhu, 2016). These stresses impact plant photosynthesis, osmotic adjustment, and nutrient uptake, thereby inhibiting plant growth and ultimately resulting in a reduced crop yield and quality. To adapt to the dynamic changes in the environment, plants have evolved a series of complex defense mechanisms that are precisely regulated at the molecular, cellular, biochemical, and physiological levels to respond to various stresses. Among them, transcription factors (TFs) are key regulators that control the majority of stress response genes and signal transduction pathways. They are activated by different pathways of signal transduction and can directly or indirectly combine with cis-acting elements to modulate the transcription efficiency of target genes, which play a crucial role in the regulation of plant response to biotic and abiotic stresses.