Nitrogen enhances post-drought recovery in wheat by modulating TaSnRK2.10-mediated regulation of TaNLP7

Abstract

Drought stress affects plant growth and agricultural production, especially in the context of global climate change. Post-drought rehydration is crucial for plant recovery and sustained growth, yet the mechanisms underlying this process remain poorly understood. Nitrogen fertilizer plays a role in optimizing plant growth and enhancing stress resistance, but its role in post-drought recovery has not been fully elucidated. Here we demonstrate that nitrogen enhances post-drought recovery in wheat by modulating TaSnRK2.10-mediated regulation of TaNLP7. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that nitrogen supplementation increased the positive effects of rewatering on gene expression. Nitrogen inhibits the activity of TaSnRK2.10, a kinase involved in abscisic acid signalling. TaSnRK2.10 interacts with and phosphorylates TaNLP7-3A, a master regulator of the nitrate signalling pathway, reducing its nuclear localization and stability. This phosphorylation event suppresses genes involved in nitrate response, inhibiting nitrate-induced growth. Analysis of the nitrogen response levels in a wheat natural population revealed that transcriptional levels of the two haplotypes of TaSnRK2.10-4A respond differently to abscisic acid and nitrate, providing insights into the selection of wheat varieties that may be better suited for different environmental conditions to optimize yield. Nitrogen promotes wheat’s recovery after drought stress through the TaSnRK2.10-TaNLP7 module. This breakthrough connects drought-stress signalling with nitrate response pathways, providing a genetic framework for developing climate-resilient crops.