Drought has become one of the most severe abiotic stresses experienced in agricultural production across the world. Plants respond to water deficit via stomatal movements in the leaves, which are mainly regulated by abscisic acid (ABA). A previous study from our lab showed that constitutive expression of maize (Zea mays L.) GOLDEN2-LIKE (GLK) transcription factors in rice (Oryza sativa L.) can improve stomatal conductance and plant photosynthetic capacity under field conditions. In the present study, we uncovered a function of ZmGLK regulation of stomatal movement in rice during drought stress. We found that elevated drought tolerance in rice plants overexpressing ZmGLK1 or GOLDEN2 (ZmG2) was conferred by rapid ABA-mediated stomatal closure. Comparative analysis of RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data from the rice leaves and DNA affinity purification sequencing (DAP-seq) results obtained in vitro revealed that ZmGLKs played roles in regulating ABA-related and stress-responsive pathways. Four upregulated genes closely functioning in abiotic stress tolerance with strong binding peaks in the DAP-seq data were identified as putative target genes of ZmGLK1 and ZmG2 in rice. These results demonstrated that maize GLKs play an important role in regulating stomatal movements to coordinate photosynthesis and stress tolerance. This trait is a valuable target for breeding drought-tolerant crop plants without compromising photosynthetic capacity.

In China, saline–alkali lands constitute 5.01% of the total land area, having a significant impact on both domestic and international food production. Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.), as one of the most important oilseed crops in China, has garnered considerable attention due to its potential adaptability to saline conditions. Breeding and improving salt-tolerant varieties is a key strategy for the effective utilization of saline lands. Hence, it is important to conduct comprehensive research into the adaptability and salt tolerance mechanisms of Brassica napus in saline environments as well as to breed novel salt-tolerant varieties. This review summarizes the molecular mechanism of salt tolerance, physiological and phenotypic indexes, research strategies for the screening of salt-tolerant germplasm resources, and genetic engineering tools for salt stress in Brassica napus. It also introduces various agronomic strategies for applying exogenous substances to alleviate salt stress and provide technological tools and research directions for future research on salt tolerance in Brassica napus.