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Here, we demonstrate that the miR167\u2013AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR 8 (ARF8) module functions as a central regulatory hub, enhancing thermotolerance by integrating both HSFA1-dependent and HSFA1-independent signaling cascades. Under HS, the expression of ARF6 and ARF8 is repressed, while miR167 is induced. Disruption of ARF6\/ARF8 or overexpression of miR167 significantly improves heat tolerance, whereas ARF8 overexpression increases HS sensitivity. ARF8 directly binds to the promoters of HSFA1 genes and heat shock protein (HSP) genes, repressing their transcription and thereby impairing the heat-responsive gene network. In addition, ARF8 physically interacts with HSFA1 proteins, further inhibiting their transactivation activity post-translationally. Notably, ARF8 also regulates HSFA2, a major amplifier of the HS response, through both HSFA1-dependent and HSFA1-independent mechanisms. Genetic evidence supports a model in which the HSFA1\u2013HSFA2 axis functions downstream of the miR167\u2013ARF8 module, but contributes only partially to the overall thermotolerance phenotype. Beyond the HSFA1\u2013HSFA2 pathway, ARF8 also suppresses the RVE4\/8\u2013ERF53\/54 transcriptional cascade, a circadian-regulated, HSFA1-independent module that promotes thermotolerance. This dual regulation allows ARF8 to fine-tune HS adaptation through integration of both canonical and noncanonical signaling routes. Together, these findings establish the miR167\u2013ARF8 module as a central integrator of HS response pathways. This work not only reveals new mechanistic complexity in plant heat response networks but also identifies a conserved regulatory node with promising potential for genetic improvement of heat-resilient crops.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1093\/plcell\/koag300","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]],"date-time":"2026-09-25T11:19:24Z","timestamp":1790335164000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["The miR167-\n                    <i>ARF8<\/i>\n                    module integrates\n                    <i>HSFA1-HSFA2<\/i>\n                    and\n                    <i>RVE4\/8-ERF53\/54<\/i>\n                    transcriptional cascades to enhance plant thermotolerance"],"prefix":"10.1093","volume":"38","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0008-9064-1034","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Jie","family":"Li","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Key Laboratory of Soybean Molecular Design Breeding, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences , 4888 Shengbei Street, Changchun 130102, Jilin ,","place":["China"]},{"name":"School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University , 500 Dongchuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai 200241 ,","place":["China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-1994-2913","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yixin","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Key Laboratory of Soybean Molecular Design Breeding, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences , 4888 Shengbei Street, Changchun 130102, Jilin ,","place":["China"]},{"name":"School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University , 500 Dongchuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai 200241 ,","place":["China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-0652-9409","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Chen","family":"Chen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Key Laboratory of Soybean Molecular Design Breeding, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences , 4888 Shengbei Street, Changchun 130102, Jilin ,","place":["China"]},{"name":"School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University , 500 Dongchuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai 200241 ,","place":["China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6314-7403","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Chenghao","family":"Ma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Key Laboratory of Soybean Molecular Design Breeding, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences , 4888 Shengbei Street, Changchun 130102, Jilin ,","place":["China"]},{"name":"School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University , 500 Dongchuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai 200241 ,","place":["China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5067-1767","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Guiliang","family":"Tang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Biological Sciences, Michigan Technological University , 1400 Townsend Dr, Houghton, MI 49931 ,","place":["United States"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8044-0409","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Zhong","family":"Zhao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China , 433 Huangshan Road, Hefei 230027 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