Molecular basis of water use efficiency mediated by ABA receptors.

Water deficit is the major factor that limits yield of crop plants and imposes a major threat to yield stability. Reduced water availability induces ABA formation and subsequent adjustments triggered by ABA signal transduction. The analysis of natural variant components of the ABA response pathway allowed us to get hands on genes critical in modulating abiotic stress responses and water consumption in nature. Here, we will focus on the two ABA receptors RCAR6 and RCAR7, which turned out to show the highest level of natural variation among Arabidopsis thaliana ecotypes. In addition, we would like to understand ABA signal integration by two CIPK-type protein kinases targeting AtHB6.