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Article|05 Mar 2026|OPEN
Transcription factor SlbHLH70 enhances drought tolerance in tomato
Ang Li1,2,3 ,† , Mayila Yusuyin2 ,† , Yuping Wei2 , Chengcheng Shen2 , Yushun Li2 , Yafei Li2 , Xiaoyan Hao2 , Mairebaike Muhamaitiha2 , Baike Wang3 , Juan Wang3 and Haiyan Lan1 , Bin Liu2,3 , , Qinghui Yu,2,3 ,
1College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830046, China
2Biological Breeding Laboratory, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi 830091, China
3Key Laboratory of Genome Research and Genetic Improvement of Xinjiang Characteristic Fruits and Vegetables, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Urumqi 830091, China
*Corresponding author. E-mail: liu.bin@xaas.ac.cn,yuqinghui@xaas.ac.cn
†Both authors contributed equally to the study.

Horticulture Research 13,
Article number: uhag075 (2026)
doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhag075
Views: 4

Received: 21 Jul 2025
Accepted: 24 Feb 2026
Published online: 05 Mar 2026

Abstract

Drought stress profoundly impacts plant productivity worldwide. The roles of basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) transcription factors are critical in processes of plant growth, development, and stress management. However, roles of specific bHLH genes in tomato, particularly in relation to drought tolerance, remain poorly understood. This research identified SlbHLH70 as a factor that enhances drought tolerance in tomato. Transgenic lines overexpressing SlbHLH70 exhibited enhanced drought tolerance and improved post-stress recovery, whereas SlbHLH70 knockout mutants showed increased sensitivity to drought stress. Further study showed that SlbHLH70 directly regulated genes associated with abscisic acid (ABA) synthesis, ABA-mediated signal transduction, and root development. Our research identified SlbHLH70 as an important regulator of drought resistance in tomato, offering a valuable genetic target for enhancing crop resilience to water shortages.