An anthocyanin acyltransferase TaMAT1a-2B mediates salt tolerance by regulating anthocyanin acylation in wheat

Soil salinity induces oxidative damage and significantly reduces crop yield. The modification of anthocyanins is crucial for crop responses to abiotic stress due to their high capacity for scavenging redox oxygen species (ROSs); however, the regulatory mechanisms governing this process in wheat remain limited. Through genome-wide analysis and transcriptome sequencing, we identify that TaMAT1a-2B, a gene associated with salt tolerance, is involved in the acylation modification of anthocyanin. Overexpression of TaMAT1a-2B significantly enhances salt tolerance by elevating acylated anthocyanin levels and decreasing ROS accumulation. Conversely, silencing TaMAT1a-2B increases salt sensitivity. TaLBD27-3D functions upstream of TaMAT1a-2B, negatively regulating its expression and thereby reducing salt tolerance. Plants with silenced TaLBD27-3D show a phenotype similar to those of TaMAT1a-2B-overexpression lines, characterized by enhanced biomass and decreased ROS content compared to the wild type. Our findings highlight the critical role of the TaLBD27-3D-TaMAT1a-2B module in modulating salt tolerance in wheat.