OsNAC079 confers salt tolerance in rice by activating the sodium transporter OsHKT1;5

The objective of this study was to identify the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms governing the expression of OsHKT1;5, a sodium transporter determining sodium homeostasis and salt tolerance in rice. Expression and mutation studies identified the transcription factors OsNAC079 and OsMYBS2, the first acting as a positive regulator of salt tolerance by activating OsHKT1;5 promoter expression and the second antagonizing OsNAC079 function, leading to opposing effects on OsHKT1;5 regulation and salt tolerance.