Fig. 2: Identification and characterization of the causal gene WRKY53.

A Local Manhattan plot (top) and LD heatmap (bottom) surrounding the peak on chromosome 5. B Exon-intron structure of OsWRKY53 and DNA polymorphisms in this gene. C Boxplot for ST-WC based on the OsWRKY53 haplotypes (Hap). Box edges represented the 0.25 and 0.75 quantiles with the medians shown by bold lines. Whiskers extended to data no more than 1.5 times the interquartile range. Differences between the haplotypes were analyzed by two-sided Student’s t-test. D Salt tolerance evaluation for WT (LG11), OsWRKY53-OE, and Cr-oswrky53 mutant lines, without (left) and with 140 mM NaCl (right). Bar = 12 cm. E The fresh weight ratio (salt treatment/control) of WT, OsWRKY53-OE, and Cr-oswrky53 under salt stress. Twelve seedlings were used to determine fresh weight and four seedlings were grouped randomly to calculate the fresh weight ratio shown as one data point. F Survival rates of WT, OsWRKY53-OE, and Cr-oswrky53 under salt stress. Twenty-four plants were used to determine the survival rate. The values of survival rate and fresh weight ratio were significantly different from that of the WT. Data were presented as mean values ± SEM, P values were calculated with two-sided Student’s t-test, n = 3. G Net Na⁺ fluxes in 500 μm distance from root apex of WT, OsWRKY53-OE, and Cr-oswrky53 measured using non-invasive micro-test technology under 140 mM NaCl treatment. H Net Na⁺ fluxes of the root xylem parenchyma cell in the roots of WT, Cr-oswrky53, and OsWRKY53-OE plants under the treatment of 140 mM NaCl for 24 h, n = 3, data were presented as means ± SEM. Source data were provided as a Source data file.