WRKY23 and bHLH041 synergize shoot-regenerating capability of callus. A) Callus-forming and shoot-regenerating phenotypes of WT, bhlh041-1, 35S:WRKY23, and bhlh041-1 35S:WRKY23 root explants and derived calli. B) Relative transcript levels of root stem cell genes in root explant-derived callus of the genotypes described in A). C) Callus-forming and shoot-regenerating phenotypes of WT, bhlh041-D, wrky23-3, and bhlh041-D wrky23-3 root explants and derived calli. D) Relative transcript levels of root stem cell genes in root explant-derived callus of the genotypes described in C). The callus area from each root explant on CIM and the number of regenerating shoots from each callus on SIM were determined (n = 20 explants) in A and C, Scale bars, 10 mm. RT-qPCR analysis in B) and D) was performed with the root explants incubated on CIM for 7 d, and data are shown as means ± Sd (n = 3 biological replicates). *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, and ***P < 0.001 by t-test.