AgMYB5, an MYB transcription factor from celery, enhanced β-carotene synthesis and promoted drought tolerance in transgenic Arabidopsis.

Background: Water shortage caused by global warming seriously affects the yield and quality of vegetable crops. β-carotene, the lipid-soluble natural product with important pharmacological value, is abundant in celery. Transcription factor MYB family extensively disperses in plants and plays regulatory roles in carotenoid metabolism and water scarcity response.