Arabidopsis WRKY71 regulates ethylene‐mediated leaf senescence by directly activating EIN2, ORE1 and ACS2 genes

Summary Leaf senescence is a pivotal step in the last stage of the plant life cycle and is influenced by various external and endogenous cues. A series of reports have indicated the involvement of the WRKY transcription factors in regulating leaf senescence, but the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways remain largely unclear. Here we provide evidence demonstrating that WRKY71 acts as a positive regulator of leaf senescence in Arabidopsis. WRKY71‐1D, an overexpressor of WRKY71, exhibited early leaf senescence, while wrky71‐1, the WRKY71 loss‐of‐function mutant, displayed delayed leaf senescence. Accordingly, a set of senescence‐associated genes (SAGs) were substantially elevated in WRKY71‐1D but markedly decreased in wrky71‐1. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays indicated that WRKY71 can bind directly to the promoters of SAG13 and SAG201. Transcriptome analysis suggested that WRKY71 might mediate multiple cues to accelerate leaf senescence, such as abiotic stresses, dark and ethylene. WRKY71 was ethylene inducible, and treatment with the ethylene precursor 1‐amino‐cyclopropane‐1‐carboxylic acid enhanced leaf senescence in WRKY71‐1D but caused only a marginal delay in leaf senescence in wrky71‐1. In vitro and in vivo assays demonstrated that WRKY71 can directly regulate ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE2 (EIN2) and ORESARA1 (ORE1), genes of the ethylene signaling pathway. Consistently, leaf senescence of WRKY71‐1D was obviously retarded in the ein2‐5 and nac2‐1 mutants. Moreover, WRKY71 was also proved to interact with ACS2 in vitro and in vivo. Treatment with AgNO3 and aminoethoxyvinylglycine and acs2‐1 could greatly arrest the leaf senescence of WRKY71‐1D. In conclusion, our data revealed that WRKY71 mediates ethylene signaling and synthesis to hasten leaf senescence in Arabidopsis. Significance Statement Both the WRKY family transcription factors and the phytohormone ethylene play pivotal roles in the regulation of leaf senescence. However, the relationship between WRKY transcription factors and ethylene in leaf senescence is largely unknown. Here we show that WRKY71 can mediate ethylene‐mediated leaf senescence by binding directly to the promoters of ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE2 (EIN2), ORESARA1 (ORE1) and ACS2.