CqZF-HD14 enhances drought tolerance in quinoa seedlings through interaction with CqHIPP34 and CqNAC79

Drought stress is a key agricultural problem that restricts plant development and crop yield. Research on quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa), a nutrient-rich crop with strong stress resistance, has been limited in terms of the molecular regulation of its adaptation to drought stress. This study identified the zinc finger–homeodomain (ZF-HD) family in quinoa and a drought-responsive Chenopodium quinoa ZF-HD14 (CqZF-HD14) through expression profiles. Transient overexpression of CqZF-HD14 promotes photosynthetic pigment accumulation under drought stress, strengthens the antioxidant system, and in turn enhances drought tolerance. Comprehensive genome-wide family analysis and expression profiling identified CqNAC79 and CqHIPP34 regulated by CqZF-HD14, and their interactions were further determined by bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BIFC). Moreover, physiological and biochemical analyses and transient overexpression also revealed that CqNAC79 and CqHIPP34 resist drought by promoting the accumulation of photosynthetic pigments and maintaining antioxidant capacity under drought stress. The synergistic effect of CqZF-HD14 with CqNAC79 or CqHIPP34 further enhanced the drought tolerance of quinoa seedlings. Taken together, the results indicate that CqZF-HD14, CqNAC79 and CqHIPP34 may be important contributors to the drought tolerance regulatory network in quinoa, and these findings add new members to the drought tolerance gene pool.