Ectopic Overexpression of Rapeseed BnaNTL1 Transcription Factor Positively Regulates Plant Resistance to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum through Modulating JA Synthesis and ROS Accumulation

Oilseed rape is one of the most important oil crops worldwide. Stem rot disease of rapeseed is caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, posing a threat to oil crop yield. NTL is a small class of membrane-tethered NAC transcription factors, which are stored on the membrane in dormant form, released upon stimuli, and then transported to the nucleus. Here, we identified BnaNTL1 from oilseed rape, and its relocation from the ER to the nucleus is induced by S. sclerotiorum. Plants overexpressing BnaNTL1-ΔTM (a truncated form without the transmembrane domain) are resistant to S. sclerotiorum infection and are accumulated with more JA and ROS. Genes related to the JA pathway and ROS signal were significantly induced by BnaNTL1. Furthermore, the dual-luciferase and EMSA results showed that BnaNTL1-ΔTM directly binds to the promoter regions of AOC3, LOX2, OPCL1, and PDF1.2, and it activates their expression. In summary, we identified that BnaNTL1 positively regulates plant resistance to S. sclerotiorum infection by modulating JA synthesis and ROS production.