STAC3 and viral infectious disease: Some well-known functions of NAC proteins are as follows: TIP NACs have been implicated in defense response and plant growth and development (Kim et al., 2007a,b, 2012; Yoshii et al., 2009); NAM/CUC3 is involved in shoot apical meristem formation and stress responses (Kim et al., 2007b; Nuruzzaman et al., 2012b, 2013); and SNAC group members are involved in responses to virus infection, abiotic stress and crosstalk between different signaling pathways (Nuruzzaman et al., 2012b, 2013).