TaNAC2 is a negative regulator in the wheat-stripe rust fungus interaction at the early stage

NAC transcription factors play important roles in plant response to various stresses. In this study, the roles of TaNAC2 in wheat against biotic and abiotic stresses were investigated. The expression of TaNAC2 was highly induced in wheat-Puccinia striiformis (Pst) interactions and ABA treatment. TaNAC2 was localized in the nuclei of Arabidopsis protoplasts. The C-terminus of TaNAC2 was necessary for transcriptional activation by the yeast one-hybrid assay. Furthermore, silencing of TaNAC2 enhanced tolerance to Pst via a significant increase of H2O2 generation and suppressing hyphal growth at the early interaction stage.