Function analysis of transcription factor OSR1 regulating osmotic stress resistance in maize.

Background: Maize is a major cereal crop world widely, however, the yield of maize is frequently limited by dehydration and even death of plants, which resulted from osmotic stress such as drought and salinity. Dissection of molecular mechanisms controlling stress tolerance will enable plant scientists and breeders to increase crops yield by manipulating key regulatory components.

Methods: The candidate OSR1 gene was identified by map-based cloning.