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ABSTRACTPlants are considered as sessile organisms that cannot avoid adverse environmental conditions and developed complex signaling networks composed of different pathways. WRKY transcription factors (TFs) are key regulators of various plant processes, including the responses to abiotic stresses. WRKY TFs are one of the largest family of transcriptional regulators found in plants. WRKY TFs act as molecular switches that modulate the expression of stress-responsive genes. Stress-induced WRKY TFs expression modulated by a complex transcriptional regulatory network that maintain the proper balance between growth, development, and stress responses. WRKY TFs typically interact with the W-box [TGACC(A/T)] of the target gene promoter to activate the expression of downstream genes. These TFs are associated in the regulation of different physiological processes. Overexpression of various WRKY genes faces the paradox of having various significant effects. These overexpression-associated undesirable phenotypes must be identified and removed for proper plant development. The present review summarized the recent development of various WRKY TFs during adverse environmental conditions as well as their role in plant growth, development and productivity for sustainable agriculture in near future.

Recently, with climate deterioration and environmental pollution, consumers are becoming more and more aware of the use of sustainable energy. In particular, the demand for electric vehicles that use sustainable energy is also increasing. In addition, due to the simple driving principle of pure electric vehicles, many electric vehicles developed by electronics companies are continuously being launched. Electric vehicles not only use renewable energy to protect the environment but also save on various usage expenses, so they are expected to become the main products in the mobile travel equipment market in the future. This study aims to explore the impact of product design dimensions on electric vehicle (EV) purchase intentions, provide a theoretical basis for companies’ differentiation strategies, and reflect the impact of product design on purchase intention. This study uses Davis’s TAM combined with environmental awareness (EA) for analysis; an online survey was conducted on Chinese (n = 468) and Korean (n = 409) consumers, both male and female, aged 20–60 years and above. We found that, for Chinese consumers, the aesthetic and symbolic dimensions do not affect perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use, but they do affect environmental awareness, while the functional dimension affects not only perceived ease of use and usefulness but also environmental awareness. For Korean consumers, the aesthetic, functional, and symbolic dimensions all affect perceived ease of use and environmental awareness, but perceived usefulness is only affected by aesthetics and environmental awareness. Through simulation analysis, the results show that perceived ease of use, usefulness, and environmental awareness all directly affect purchase intentions. Perceived ease of use and environmental awareness are particularly important for Chinese consumers, while Korean consumers pay more attention to the test drive experience and environmental awareness. The results show that electric vehicle manufacturers should develop new technologies for the Chinese market to attract consumers, while in the Korean market, they should improve perceived usefulness through test drives and pay attention to environmental awareness. Specific statistical data show that both Chinese and Korean consumers assign importance to the impact of environmental awareness on purchase intention, proving the importance of environmental awareness. The results of this study will be of great reference value to electric vehicle manufacturers, policymakers, and consumer behavior researchers, helping them to better understand the role of product design in improving the market acceptance of electric vehicles.

In order to invigorate Korea’s pure electric vehicle market, innovative changes are imperative in both technological advancements and exterior design aesthetics. The front fascia, being the nucleus of car design, profoundly influences not only brand perception but also consumer preferences and purchasing decisions. Hence, the significance of front-end design in pure electric vehicle engineering is becoming increasingly evident. This study aims to assess the front-end design of electric vehicles and delineate the design aesthetics favored by consumers. Focusing on the exterior design aspects of electric vehicles, the study participants were limited to adults aged 20 or above. Utilizing Maximum Difference Scaling, a questionnaire was formulated, and preferences for front-end elements (headlamps, bonnet, bumper, grille, and side mirrors) were scrutinized through cross-tabulation analysis. The findings revealed the bonnet as the most preferred element, with a preference towards simplistic designs observed across all elements, including the bumper, grille, and side mirrors. Headlamps ranked as the second most preferred element, with a tendency towards emotionally evocative designs. This study offers insights into consumer preferences regarding the front-end elements of electric vehicles and is poised to contribute to the revitalization of Korea’s pure electric vehicle market by providing pertinent information to future electric vehicle manufacturers.