Genome-Wide Identification of the SMXL Gene Family in Common Wheat and Expression Analysis of TaSMXLs Under Abiotic Stress

Strigolactones (SLs), a novel class of plant hormones, play a crucial role in plant growth and development. <i>SMXL</i> (<i>SUPPRESSOR OF MAX2 1-like</i>) is a key gene in the SL signaling pathway, regulating its function by inhibiting the reception of SL signals. Therefore,...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zunjie Wang, Zhengning Jiang, Heping Wan, Xueyan Chen, Hongya Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Agronomy
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/3/656
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Summary:Strigolactones (SLs), a novel class of plant hormones, play a crucial role in plant growth and development. <i>SMXL</i> (<i>SUPPRESSOR OF MAX2 1-like</i>) is a key gene in the SL signaling pathway, regulating its function by inhibiting the reception of SL signals. Therefore, investigating how <i>SMXL</i> regulates SL to influence wheat growth, development, and stress resistance is of significant importance. In this study, 22 <i>SMXL</i> genes were identified in the Chinese Spring wheat reference genome. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that these genes belong to the Group II subfamily, exhibiting similar physicochemical properties and conserved motifs. Ka/Ks analysis indicated that these genes have undergone purifying selection during evolution. Cis-acting element analysis showed that the promoter regions of <i>TaSMXL</i> genes are enriched with light-responsive elements and regulatory elements related to growth, development, and stress responses. Expression pattern analysis demonstrated that <i>TaSMXL</i> genes exhibit significant differential expression under drought, salt, and cold stress conditions, revealing the potential molecular mechanisms of wheat’s response to multiple abiotic stresses. This study provides a theoretical foundation for understanding the functional roles of <i>SMXL</i> genes in wheat and offers valuable candidate gene resources for breeding stress-resistant wheat varieties.
ISSN:2073-4395