WUSCHEL-related homeobox gene PagWOX11/12a responds to drought stress by enhancing root elongation and biomass growth in poplar

In plants, a large root system improves the uptake of water and nutrients and is important for responding to drought stress. The poplar WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) transcription factor promotes adventitious rooting, but its regulation of root growth in response to drought stress remains elusive. In this study, we found that PagWOX11/12a from hybrid poplar 84K (Populus alba×Populus glandulosa) is expressed predominantly in the roots and is...