TaSAUR78 enhances multiple abiotic stress tolerance by regulating the interacting gene TaVDAC1

SMALL AUXIN-UP RNAs (SAURs) regulated by abiotic stress play multiple functions in plants. However, the functions of SAURs in abiotic stress are largely unknown. In this study, we cloned a novel SAUR gene, TaSAUR78, from wheat, and we found that TaSAUR78 interacted with TaVDAC1 (voltage-dependent anion channel). Salt stress decreased expression of TaSAUR78 and increased expression of TaVDAC1. Overexpression of TaSAUR78 enhanced tolerance to salt, drought, and freezing stresses in transgenic Arabidopsis and reduced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under salt stress. Overexpression of TaVDAC1 enhanced tolerance to salt stress, while decreased tolerance to drought and low temperature stresses in transgenic Arabidopsis. TaVDAC1 overexpression increased the accumulation of ROS in plants. These results suggested that TaSAUR78 improved plant tolerance to abiotic stresses by regulating TaVDAC1. This study generated valuable information on the functions of TaSAUR78 and TaVDAC1 in multiple abiotic stresses, which may facilitate the deployment of these genes to enhance crop tolerance to abiotic stresses in the future.