The molecular mechanism of CsWRKY24-4 and CsWRKY24-5 in response to cold stress in tea plants (Camellia sinensis).

CsWRKY24-4 and CsWRKY24-5 transcription factors significantly enhance cold tolerance in tea plants, with CsWRKY24-5 directly interacting with the CsERF061 promoter.

• Why it matters: Cold stress limits tea yield, and understanding the molecular mechanisms of cold tolerance can help improve crop resilience. Identifying key regulators like CsWRKY24-4 and CsWRKY24-5 addresses this knowledge gap.
• What they did: Researchers identified two low-temperature responsive WRKY transcription factors from tea plants, examined their expression under cold stress, and tested their functions through heterologous overexpression in Arabidopsis and tea plants, along with interaction assays.
• The result: Both CsWRKY24-4 and CsWRKY24-5 positively regulate cold stress responses, with CsWRKY24-5 directly binding the CsERF061 promoter and both interacting with CsSPL15, providing insights into molecular pathways that enhance cold tolerance in tea plants.