A novel Ca2+sensor switch for elevated salt tolerance in plants

Calcium signaling is vital for sensing and alleviating salt stress in plants. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Steinhorst et al. show that salt stress quantitatively translates into an increasing Ca2+ signaling output that activates the CBL8-CIPK24-SOS1 module, which, functioning with CBL4-CIPK24-SOS1, confers enhanced salt tolerance under severe salinity stress.

Automated summary

Calcium signaling is crucial for plants to sense and alleviate salt stress. This study reveals that salt stress leads to an increased output of calcium signaling, which activates the CBL8-CIPK24-SOS1 module. This module, along with CBL4-CIPK24-SOS1, enhances salt tolerance under severe salinity stress.