1. Chromosome-scale pearl millet genomes reveal CLAMT1b as key determinant of strigolactone pattern and Striga susceptibility.
- Author
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Kuijer HNJ, Wang JY, Bougouffa S, Abrouk M, Jamil M, Incitti R, Alam I, Balakrishna A, Alvarez D, Votta C, Chen GE, Martínez C, Zuccolo A, Berqdar L, Sioud S, Fiorilli V, de Lera AR, Lanfranco L, Gojobori T, Wing RA, Krattinger SG, Gao X, and Al-Babili S
- Subjects
- Plant Proteins genetics, Plant Proteins metabolism, Chromosomes, Plant genetics, Plant Diseases parasitology, Plant Diseases genetics, Methyltransferases metabolism, Methyltransferases genetics, Plant Weeds genetics, Plant Weeds metabolism, Disease Resistance genetics, Plant Growth Regulators metabolism, Striga genetics, Lactones metabolism, Pennisetum genetics, Pennisetum metabolism, Genome, Plant
- Abstract
The yield of pearl millet, a resilient cereal crop crucial for African food security, is severely impacted by the root parasitic weed Striga hermonthica, which requires host-released hormones, called strigolactones (SLs), for seed germination. Herein, we identify four SLs present in the Striga-susceptible line SOSAT-C88-P10 (P10) but absent in the resistant 29Aw (Aw). We generate chromosome-scale genome assemblies, including four gapless chromosomes for each line. The Striga-resistant Aw lacks a 0.7 Mb genome segment containing two putative CARLACTONOIC ACID METHYLTRANSFERASE1 (CLAMT1) genes, which may contribute to SL biosynthesis. Functional assays show that P10CLAMT1b produces the SL-biosynthesis intermediate methyl carlactonoate (MeCLA) and that MeCLA is the precursor of P10-specific SLs. Screening a diverse pearl millet panel confirms the pivotal role of the CLAMT1 section for SL diversity and Striga susceptibility. Our results reveal a reason for Striga susceptibility in pearl millet and pave the way for generating resistant lines through marker-assisted breeding or direct genetic modification., (© 2024. The Author(s).)
- Published
- 2024
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