Positive regulation of BBX11 by NAC053 confers stomatal and apoplastic immunity against bacterial infection in Arabidopsis

Stomatal immunity and apoplastic immunity are critical for preventing microbial phytopathogenesis. However, the specific regulatory mechanisms of these resistances remain unclear. In this study, a BBX11 transcription factor (TF) was identified in Arabidopsis and was found to participate in stomatal and apoplast immunity. Phenotypic, biochemical, and genetic analyses revealed that NAC053 contributed to Arabidopsis resistance against Pseudomonas syringae pv tomato DC3000 (Pst DC3000) by positively regulating BBX11. BBX11 TF that was expressed constitutively in guard cells acts as a positive regulator of plant defense against Pst DC3000 through the suppression of coronatine (COR)-induced stomatal reopening, mitigating the virulence of COR and alleviating COR-triggered systemic susceptibility in the apoplast. BBX11 was found to be involved in PTI responses induced by flg22, such as stomatal closure, reactive oxygen species accumulation, MAPK activation, and callose deposition, thereby enhancing disease resistance. Yeast one-hybrid screening identified NAC053 as a potential TF that interacted with the promoter of BBX11. NAC053 also positively regulated resistance to Pst DC3000. These findings underscore the significance of transcriptional activation of BBX11 by NAC053 in stomatal and apoplastic immunity against Pst DC3000, enhancing understanding of plant regulatory mechanisms in response to bacterial pathogens.