Ectopic overexpression of AtCIPK16 confers salt tolerance to Arabidopsis and barley.
CIPK16s have synapomorphic characters with possible functional importance.
Phylogenetic analysis shows AtCIPK16 orthologues are confined to core Brassicales.
Although absent in barley AtCIPK16 expression still confers improved salt exclusion.
We can now explain the evolutionary origins of CIPK16.