Root-derived long-distance signals trigger ABA synthesis and enhance drought resistance in Arabidopsis

Vascular plants have evolved intricate long-distance signaling mechanisms to cope with environmental stress,with reactive oxygen species(ROS)emerging as pivotal systemic signals in plant stress responses.However,the exact role of ROS as root-to-shoot signals in the drought response has not been determined.In this study,we reveal that compared with wild-type plants,ferric reductase defective 3(frd3)mutants exhibit enhanced drought resistance concomitant with elevated NINE-CIS-EPOXYCAROTENOID DIOXYGENASE 3(NCED3)transcript levels and abscisic acid(ABA)contents in leaves as well as increased hydrogen peroxide(H_(2)O_(2))levels in roots and leaves.Grafting experiments distinctly illustrate that drought resistance can be conferred by the frd3 rootstock regardless of the scion genotype,indicating that long-distance signals originating from frd3 roots promote an increase in ABA levels in leaves.Intriguingly,the drought resistance conferred by the frd3 mutant rootstock is weakened by the CAT2-overexpressing scion,suggesting that H_(2)O_(2)may be involved in long-distance signaling.Moreover,the results of comparative transcriptome and proteome analyses support the drought resistance phenotype of the frd3 mutant.Taken together,our findings substantiate the notion that frd3 root-derived long-distance signals trigger ABA synthesis in leaves and enhance drought resistance,providing new evidence for root-to-shoot long-distance signaling in the drought response of plants.