Strigolactones modulate cotton fiber elongation and secondary cell wall thickening

Cotton is one of the most important economic crops in the world,and it is a major source of fiber in the textile industry.Strigolactones(SLs)are a class of carotenoid-derived plant hormones involved in many processes of plant growth and development,although the functions of SL in fiber development remain largely unknown.Here,we found that the endogenous SLs were significantly higher in fibers at 20 days post-anthesis(DPA).Exogenous SLs significantly increased fiber length and cell wall thickness.Furthermore,we cloned three key SL biosynthetic genes,namely GhD27,GhMAX3,and GhMAX4,which were highly expressed in fibers,and subcellular localization analyses revealed that GhD27,GhMAX3,and GhMAX4 were localized in the chloroplast.The exogenous expression of GhD27,GhMAX3,and GhMAX4 complemented the physiological phenotypes of d27,max3,and max4 mutations in Arabidopsis,respectively.Knockdown of GhD27,GhMAX3,and GhMAX4 in cotton resulted in increased numbers of axillary buds and leaves,reduced fiber length,and significantly reduced fiber thickness.These findings revealed that SLs participate in plant growth,fiber elongation,and secondary cell wall formation in cotton.These results provide new and effective genetic resources for improving cotton fiber yield and plant architecture.

Strigolactones interact with other phytohormones to modulate plant root growth and development

Strigolactones(SLs),which are biosynthesized mainly in roots,modulate various aspects of plant growth and development.Here,we review recent research on the role of SLs and their cross-regulation with auxin,cytokinin,and ethylene in the modulation of root growth and development.Under nutrientsufficient conditions,SLs regulate the elongation of primary roots and inhibit adventitious root formation in eudicot plants.SLs promote the elongation of seminal roots and increase the number of adventitious roots in grass plants in the short term,while inhibiting lateral root development in both grass and eudicot plants.The effects of SLs on the elongation of root hairs are variable and depend on plant species,growth conditions,and SL concentration.Nitrogen or phosphate deficiency induces the accumulation of endogenous SLs,modulates root growth and development.Genetic analyses indicate cross-regulation of SLs with auxin,cytokinin,and ethylene in regulation of root growth and development.We discuss the implications of these studies and consider their potential for exploiting the components of SL signaling for the design of crop plants with more efficient soil-resource utilization.

Exogenous strigolactones promote lateral root growth by reducing the endogenous auxin level in rapeseed

Strigolactones(SLs)are newly discovered plant hormones which regulate the normal development of different plant organs,especially root architecture.Lateral root formation of rapeseed seedlings before winter has great effects on the plant growth and seed yield.Here,we treated the seedlings of Zhongshuang 11(ZS11),an elite conventional rapeseed cultivar,with different concentrations of GR24(a synthetic analogue of strigolactones),and found that a low concentration(0.18μmol L–1)of GR24 could significantly increase the lateral root growth,shoot growth,and root/shoot ratio of seedlings.RNA-Seq analysis of lateral roots at 12 h,1 d,4 d,and 7 d after GR24 treatment showed that 2301,4626,1595,and 783 genes were significantly differentially expressed,respectively.Function enrichment analysis revealed that the plant hormone transduction pathway,tryptophan metabolism,and the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathway were over-represented.Moreover,transcription factors,including AP2/ERF,AUX/IAA,NAC,MYB,and WRKY,were up-regulated at 1 d after GR24 treatment.Metabolomics profiling further demonstrated that the amounts of various metabolites,such as indole-3-acetic acid(IAA)and cis-zeatin were drastically altered.In particular,the concentrations of endogenous IAA significantly decreased by 52.4 and 75.8%at 12 h and 1 d after GR24 treatment,respectively.Our study indicated that low concentrations of exogenous SLs could promote the lateral root growth of rapeseed through interaction with other phytohormones,which provides useful clues for the effects of SLs on root architecture and crop productivity.

Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses reveal that exogenous strigolactones alleviate the response of melon root to cadmium stress

Strigolactones(SLs)are classified into plant hormones,playing a key role as a mediator of plant growth in response to several abiotic stresses.Cadmium(Cd),a common heavy metal and soil pollutant,can suppress plant growth and development.In this work,we explored the effects of exogenous SLs on root formation in response to Cd stress using melon seeds subjected to seven germination treatments:CK(control),Cd(300 μmol·L^(-1) CdCl_(2)),and SL1-SL5(CdCl_(2)-stressed seeds pretreated with 0.1,0.5,1,2,and 3 μmol·L^(-1) GR24 solutions).The results indicated that SLs increased the antioxidant enzyme activities and root vigor and decreased the malondialdehyde(MDA)contents in the roots of Cdstressed melon seedlings.Then we used transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses to explore the mechanisms by which exogenous SLs protect against Cd stress.There were 242 significant differentially expressed genes(DEGs)(78 upregulated,164 downregulated)and 247 significantly differentially expressed metabolites(DEMs)(222 upregulated,25 downregulated)between the Cd and SL3 treatments.SLs altered the expression of genes related to redox formation processes,including peroxidase(POD),lipoxygenase(LOX),glutamate dehydrogenase(GDH),and glutathione S-transferase(GST).In addition,we found that SLs regulated the expression of the MYB,AP2/ERF,bHLH,and WRKY transcription factor families.The combined transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed that the DEGs and DEMs involved in Cd stress alleviation were mainly related to the gene expression of jasmonic acid(JA)and flavonoid biosynthesis.SLs might induce LOX-related genes to regulate JA biosynthesis.Moreover,SLs might promote flavonoid biosynthesis by regulating eleven flavonoid-related genes and eight metabolites.The results provide a new perspective for studying the adaptation of plants to Cd stress.

Functional identification of MdSMXL8.2,the homologous gene of strigolactones pathway repressor protein gene in Malus×domestica

A homologous gene of strigolactones repressor protein gene SMXL7/D53,MdSMXL8.2(GenBank accession No.:MD07G1222400),was cloned from‘Royal Gala’apple(Malus×domestica Borkh.)in this study.The sequence analysis revealed that the length of this gene was 3243 bp,which encoded 1080 amino acids,and had a protein molecular mass of∼110 kD.The phylogenetic tree analysis indicated that the MdSMXL8.2 exhibited the highest sequence similarity with Arabidopsis AtSMXL7.The protein conserved domain analysis revealed that the MdSMXL8.2 contained two ClpA domains.The prediction of the secondary and tertiary structures of the MdSMXL8.2 indicated that it contained 34.54%αhelix,3.43%β-sheet,and 11.76%extended chain.The in-silico analysis suggested that the promoter sequence of MdSMXL8.2 contained several typical cisacting elements,including abscisic acid(ABA),gibberellin(GA),ethylene,auxin,jasmonic acid(JA),salicylic acid(SA),drought,and heat stressresponsive elements.Quantitative real-time(qRT)-PCR analyses revealed that MdSMXL8.2 was expressed in different apple tissues,with the highest transcript level found in the stem.The expression of MdSMXL8.2 was significantly induced by exogenous ABA,PEG and mannitol,while exogenous NaCl significantly inhibited MdSMXL8.2 expression.The growing status of MdSMXL8.2-overexpressed Orin apple callus was worse than the wild type(WT)after NaCl treatment and had a higher malondialdehyde(MDA)content and relative conductance(REC).Additionally,MdSMXL8.2-overexpressed Arabidopsis exhibited shorter root length and a reduction in fresh weight under salt stress,indicating that MdSMXL8.2 negatively regulated salt tolerance in apples.

Do Strigolactones Regulate Bud Winter Dormancy and Charactrisitc Secondary Metabolism in Tea?

Tea(Camellia sinensis[L.]O.Kuntze.)is an important cash crop,which mainly uses tender shoots and young leaves for manufacturing.Due to the marketing characteristic that earlier made tea has higher price,the time of the breaking of winter dormancy buds in spring is extremely important in tea industry.Strigolactones are a group of carotenoids-derived metabolites which regulates bud outgrowth,shoot branching,tiller angle and environmental stress responses.The role of strigolactones in tea plant was briefly summarized in the current review,with an emphasis of the association of strigolactones on bud ecodormancy and shoot branching.The involvement of strigolactones on the biosynthesis of the tea characteristic metabolites flavonoids,caffeine and theanine were also discussed.Moreover,recent advances on the biosynthesis of strigolactones and its regulation by microRNAs and environmental stresses were also presented.This review provides a basis for future investigations underlying the mechanisms of strigolactones on bud winter dormancy and tea secondary metabolism.

Parasitic Plants <i>Striga</i>and <i>Phelipanche</i>Dependent upon Exogenous Strigolactones for Germination Have Retained Genes for Strigolactone Biosynthesis

Strigolactones are plant hormones with multiple functions, including regulating various aspects of plant architecture such as shoot branching, facilitating the colonization of plant roots by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, and acting as seed germination stimulants for certain parasitic plants of the family Orobanchaceae. The obligate parasitic species Phelipanche aegyptiaca and Striga hermonthica require strigolactones for germination, while the facultative parasite Triphysaria versicolor does not. It has been hypothesized that P. aegyptiaca and S. hermonthica would have undergone evolutionary loss of strigolactone biosynthesis as a part of their mechanism to enable specific detection of exogenous strigolactones. We analyzed the transcriptomes of P. aegyptiaca, S. hermonthica and T. versicolor and identified genes known to act in strigolactone synthesis (D27, CCD7, CCD8, and MAX1), perception (MAX2 and D14) and transport (PDR12). These genes were then analyzed to assess likelihood of function. Transcripts of all strigolactone-related genes were found in P. aegyptiaca and S. hermonthica, and evidence points to their encoding functional proteins. Gene open reading frames were consistent with homologs from Arabidopsis and other strigolactone-producing plants, and all genes were expressed in parasite tissues. In general, the genes related to strigolactone synthesis and perception appeared to be evolving under codon-based selective constraints in strigolactone-dependent species. Bioassays of S. hermonthica root extracts indicated the presence of strigolactone class stimulants on germination of P. aegyptiaca seeds. Taken together, these results indicate that Phelipanche aegyptiaca and S. hermonthica have retained functional genes involved in strigolactone biosynthesis, suggesting that the parasites use both endogenous and exogenous strigolactones and have mechanisms to differentiate the two.

Foliar application of strigolactones improves the desiccation tolerance,grain yield and water use efficiency in dryland wheat through modulation of non-hydraulic root signals and antioxidant defense

Non-hydraulic root signals(nHRS)are affirmed as a unique positive response to soil drying,and play a crucial role in regulating water use efficiency and yield formation in dryland wheat production.Strigolactones(SLs)can enhance plant drought adaptability.However,the question of whether strigolactones enhance grain yield and water use efficiency by regulating nHRS and antioxidant defense systems in dryland wheat remains unanswered.In this study,pot experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of strigolactones on nHRS,antioxidant defense system,and grain yield and water use efficiency in dryland wheat.The results showed that external application of SLs increased drought-induced abscisic acid(ABA)accumulation and activated an earlier trigger of nHRS at 73.4% field capacity(FC),compared to 68.5%FC in the control group(CK).This phenomenon was mechanically associated with the physiological mediation of SLs.The application of SLs significantly enhanced the activities of leaf antioxidant enzymes,reduced ROS production,and mitigated oxidative damage to lipid membrane.Additionally,root biomass,root length density,and root to shoot ratio were increased under strigolactone treatment.Furthermore,exogenous application of SLs significantly increased grain yield by 34.9%under moderate drought stress.Water use efficiency was also increased by 21.5% and 33.3% under moderate and severe drought conditions respectively,compared to the control group(CK).The results suggested that the application of strigolactones triggered earlier drought-sensing mechanism and improved the antioxidant defense ability,thus enhancing grain yield and water use efficiency in dryland wheat production.

受多粗毛的茎枝内酯类多物质(Strigolactones)调控的植物侧枝生长

本文介绍受Strigolactones调控的植物侧枝生长的信号合成、信号转导机制以及它与生长素和细胞分裂素之间相互作用的研究进展。

Strigolactones and Brassinosteroids Antagonistically Regulate the Stability of the D53-OsBZR1 Complex to Determine FC1 Expression in Rice Tillering

Rice tillering,a key architecture trait determ ining grain yield,is highly regulated by a class of newly identified phytohorm ones,strigolactones(SLs).How ever,the whole SL signaling pathw ay from the receptor to dow nstream transcription factors to finally inhibit tillering remains unrevealed.In this study,we first found that brassinosteroids(BRs)strongly enhance tillering by prom oting bud outgrow th in rice,which is largely different from the function of BRs in Arabidopsis.Genetic and biochem ical analyses indicated that both the SL and BR signaling pathw ays control rice tillering by regulating the stability of D53 and/or the OsBZR1 RLA1-DLT module,a transcriptional complex in the rice BR signaling pathway.We further found that D53 interacts with OsBZR1 to inhibit the expression of FC1,a local inhibitor of tillering,and that this inhibition depends on direct DNA binding by OsBZR1,which recruits D53 to the FC1 promoter in rice buds.Taken together,these findings uncover a mechanism illustrating how SLs and BRs coordinately regulate rice tillering via the early responsive gene FC1.

Strigolactones and the Regulation of Pea Symbioses in Response to Nitrate and Phosphate Deficiency

New roles for the recently identified group of plant hormones, the strigolactones, are currently under active investigation. One of their key roles is to regulate plant symbioses. These compounds act as a rhizosphere signal in arbuscular mycorrhizal symbioses and as a positive regulator of nodulation in legumes. The phosphorous and nitrogen status of the soil has emerged as a powerful regulator of strigolactone production. However, until now, the potential role of strigolactones in regulating mycorrhizal development and nodulation in response to nutrient deficiency has not been proven. In this paper, the role of strigolactone synthesis and response in regulating these symbioses is examined in pea （Pisum sativum L.）. Pea is well suited to this study, since there is a range of well-characterized strigolactone bio- synthesis and response mutants that is unique amongst legumes. Evidence is provided for a novel endogenous role for strigolactone response within the root during mycorrhizal development, in addition to the action of strigolactones on the fungal partner. The strigolactone response pathway that regulates mycorrhizal development also appears to dif- fer somewhat from the response pathway that regulates nodulation. Finally, studies with strigolactone-deficient pea mutants indicate that, despite strong regulation of strigolactone production by both nitrogen and phosphate, strigolac- tones are not required to regulate these symbioses in response to nutrient deficiency.

A Phelipanche ramosa KAI2 protein perceives strigolactones and isothiocyanates enzymatically

Phelipanche ramosa is an obligate root-parasitic weed that threatens major crops in central Europe.In order to germinate,it must perceive various structurally divergent host-exuded signals,including isothiocyanates(ITCs)and strigolactones(SLs).However,the receptors involved are still uncharacterized.Here,we identify five putative SL receptors in P.ramosa and show that PrKAI2d3 is involved in the stimulation of seed germination.We demonstrate the high plasticity of PrKAI2d3,which allows it to interact with different chemicals,including ITCs.The SL perception mechanism of PrKAI2d3 is similar to that of endogenous SLs in non-parasitic plants.We provide evidence that PrKAI2d3 enzymatic activity confers hypersensitivity to SLs.Additionally,we demonstrate that methylbutenolide-OH binds PrKAI2d3 and stimulates P.ramosa germination with bioactivity comparable to that of ITCs.This study demonstrates that P.ramosa has extended its signal perception system during evolution,a fact that should be considered for the development of specific and efficient biocontrol methods.

Fine-tuning by strigolactones of root response to low phosphate

Strigolactones are plant hormones that regulate the development of different plant parts. In the shoot,they regulate axillary bud outgrowth and in the root,root architecture and root-hair length and density. Strigolactones are also involved with communication in the rhizosphere,including enhancement of hyphal branching of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Here we present the role and activity of strigolactones under conditions of phosphate deprivation.Under these conditions,their levels of biosynthesis and exudation increase,leading to changes in shoot and root development. At least for the latter,these changes are likely to be associated with alterations in auxin transport and sensitivity. On the other hand,strigolactones may positively affect plant–mycorrhiza interactions and thereby promote phosphate acquisition by the plant. Strigolactones may be a way for plants to fine-tune their growth pattern under phosphate deprivation.

Diverse Roles of Strigolactones in Plant Development

With the discovery of strigolactones as root exudate signals that trigger parasitic weed seed germination, and then as a branching inhibitor and plant hormone, the next phase of strigolactone research has quickly revealed this hormone class as a major player in optimizing plant growth and development. From the early stages of plant evolution, it seems that strigolactones were involved in enabling plants to modify growth in order to gain advantage in competi- tion with neighboring organisms for limited resources. For example, a moss plant can alter its growth in response to strigolactones emanating from a neighbor. Within a higher plant, strigolactones appear to be involved in controlling the balance of resource distribution via strategic modification of growth and development. Most notably, higher plants that encounter phosphate deficiency increase strigolactone production, which changes root growth and promotes fungal symbiosis to enhance phosphate intake. The shoot also changes by channeling resources away from unessential leaves and branches and into the main stem and root system. This hormonal response is a key adaption that radically alters whole-plant architecture in order to optimize growth and development under diverse environmental conditions.

Strigolactones are a new-defined class of plant hormones which inhibit shoot branching and mediate the interaction of plant-AM fungi and plant-parasitic weeds

Because plants are sessile organisms,the ability to adapt to a wide range of environmental conditions is critical for their survival.As a consequence,plants use hormones to regulate growth,mitigate biotic and abiotic stresses,and to communicate with other organisms.Many plant hormones function plei-otropically in vivo,and often work in tandem with other hormones that are chemically distinct.A newly-defined class of plant hormones,the strigolactones,cooperate with auxins and cytokinins to control shoot branching and the outgrowth of lateral buds.Strigolactones were originally identified as compounds that stimulated the germination of parasitic plant seeds,and were also demonstrated to induce hyphal branching in arbuscular mycorrhizal(AM) fungi.AM fungi form symbioses with higher plant roots and mainly facilitate the absorption of phosphate from the soil.Conforming to the classical definition of a plant hormone,strigolactones are produced in the roots and translocated to the shoots where they inhibit shoot outgrowth and branching.The biosynthesis of this class of compounds is regulated by soil nutrient availability,i.e.the plant will increase its production of strigolactones when the soil phosphate concentration is limited,and decrease production when phosphates are in ample supply.Strigolactones that affect plant shoot branching,AM fungal hyphal branching,and seed germination in parasitic plants facilitate chemical synthesis of similar compounds to control these and other biological processes by exogenous application.

KAI2-and MAX2-Mediated Responses to Karrikins and Strigolactones Are Largely Independent of HY5 in Arabidopsis Seedlings

Karrikins are butenolide compounds released from burning vegetation that stimulate seed germination and enhance seedling photomorphogenesis. Strigolactones are structurally similar plant hormones that regulate shoot and root development, and promote the germination of parasitic weed seeds. In Arabidopsis, the F-box protein MAX2 is required for responses to karrikins and strigolactones, and the a/~ hydrolase KAI2 is necessary for responses to karrikins. Both MAX2 and KAI2 are essential for normal light-dependent seedling development. The bZIP transcription factor HY5 acts downstream of multiple photoreceptors and promotes photomorphogenesis, but its relationship with MAX2 and KAI2 in terms of seedling development and responses to karrikins and strigolactones is poorly defined. Here, we dem- onstrate that HY5 action is genetically separable from that of MAX2 and KAI2. While by5 mutants have weak hypoco- tyl elongation responses to karrikins and the artificial strigolactone GR24, they have normal transcriptional responses, suggesting that HY5 is not involved in perception or action of karrikins or strigolactones. Furthermore, we show that overexpression of KAI2 is sufficient to enhance responses to both karrikins and GR24 in wild-type seedlings, and that KAI2 overexpression partially suppresses the hy5 long hypocotyl phenotype. These results suggest that KAI2 and MAX2 define a regulatory pathway that largely operates independently of HY5 to mediate seedling responses to abiotic signals such as smoke and light.

Confirming Stereochemical Structures of Strigolactones Produced by Rice and Tobacco

Major strigolactones （SLs） produced by rice （Oryza sativa L. cv. Nipponbare） and tobacco （Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Michinoku No. 1） were purified and their stereochemical structures were determined by comparing with optically pure synthetic standards for their NMR and CD data and retention times and mass fragmentations in ESI-LC/MS and GC-MS. SLs purified from root exudates of rice plants were orobanchol, orobanchyl acetate, and ent-2＂-epi-5-deoxystr- igol. In addition to these SLs, 7-oxoorobanchyl acetate and the putative three methoxy-5~deoxystrigol isomers were detected by LC-MS/MS. The production of 7-oxoorobanchyl acetate seemed to occur in the early growth stage, as it was detected only in the root exudates collected during the first week of incubation. The root exudates of tobacco contained at least 11 SLs, including solanacol, solanacyl acetate, orobanchol, ent-2＂-epi-orobanchol, orobanchyl acetate, ent-2＇- epi-orobanchyl acetate, 5-deoxystrigol, ent-2＂-epi-5-deoxystrigol, and three isomers of putative didehydro-orobanchol whose structures remain to be clarified. Furthermore, two sorgolactone isomers but not sorgolactone were detected as minor SLs by LC-MS/MS analysis. It is intriguing to note that rice plants produced only orobanchol-type SLs, derived from ent-2＂-epi-5-deoxystrigol, but both orobanchol-type and strigol-type SLs, derived from 5-deoxystrigol were detected in tobacco plants.

The GhMAX2 gene regulates plant growth and fiber development in cotton

Strigolactones(SLs)are a new type of plant endogenous hormones that have been found to regulate plant growth and architecture.At present,some genes related to the biosynthesis and signaling pathway of SLs have been isolated in plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana,Pisum sativum and Oryza sativa.However,the signaling pathway and specific mechanism of SLs in cotton remain unclear.In this study,we identified the SLs signaling gene GhMAX2 and demonstrated its function in plant growth and architecture in Gossypium hirsutum.Bioinformatics analysis showed that GhMAX2 mainly consists of anα-helix and a random coil and includes a large number of leucine-rich repeats.GhMAX2 was highly expressed in root,stem,flower,and fibers at 20 days post-anthesis(DPA).GhMAX2 promoter-drivenβ-glucuronidase expression was present exclusively in the root,main inflorescence,flower,and silique.Subcellular localization showed that GhMAX2 is targeted to the nucleus.Heterologously expressed GhMAX2 can rescue the phenotype of Arabidopsis max2-1 mutant,indicating that the function of MAX2 is highly conserved between G.hirsutum and A.thaliana species.In addition,the knockdown expression of GhMAX2 in cotton resulted in significantly reduced plant height,slow growth,short internodes,and reduced fiber length.These findings indicate that GhMAX2 probably contributes to plant growth,architecture and fiber elongation in cotton.The study reveals insights into the roles of GhMAX2-mediated SL/KAR signaling in cotton and provides a valuable foundation for the cultivation of cotton plants in the future.

Alectra vogelii: A Threat to Bambara Groundnut Production under Climate Change: A Review Paper

Bambara groundnut (BGN) is a protein-rich pulse with the ability to lead to more climate-resilient agriculture. The objective of this study was to review Alectra vogelii as a potential threat to BGN production as a result of climate change. However, the crop faces biotic and abiotic stresses. Alectra vogelii is a major biotic constraint to BGN production, especially in Africa’s non-fertile semi-arid regions. Alectra vogelii (L.) Benth is a parasitic weed in the Orobanchaceae family that causes major damage by forming haustoria attached to roots to enable absorption of nutrients from the BGN. Alectra vogelii produces a large number of minute seeds that can live in the soil for up to 20 years. Based on the reviewed literature, various control mechanisms for dealing with the harmful effects of Alectra vogelii have been proposed. The aim of this research was to reveal the effect of Alectra vogelii on BGN and possible control strategies. We discuss the different control methods such as cultural and mechanical management procedures, phosphorus fertilizers and resistant host crops, herbicide use, and integrated Alectra vogelii control methods. In adaptive methods, however, new techniques remain important. The life cycle of root parasitic weeds is inextricably linked to that of their host, making it an ideal target for such new control techniques, especially when aimed at the early stages of the host-parasite relationship. This review reveals additional information on the function of parasitic seed, strigolactones and how they can be used in breeding to management parasitic weeds.

Identification and Cloning of Tillering-Related Genes OsMAX1 in Rice

Tillering is an important agronomic trait which has a direct impact on plant type and grain yield. Strigolactones are a class of important phytohormones regulating rice tillering. ATMAX1 is an important gene involved in strigolactone biosynthesis through encoding the protein P450 in Arabidopsis. Based on sequence BLASTp, we identified five homologous genes of ATMAX1 in rice, i.e., OsMAXla, OsMAXlb, OsMAXlc, OsMAXld and OsMAXle. Among them, OsMAXla and OsMAXle showed stable and high expression in rice tissues. In addition, we observed that OsMAXla and OsMAXle can rescue the branched phenotype and the influences caused by MAX1 mutation in Arabidopsis. Moreover, the expression of OsMAX1a and OsMAXle can respond to phosphate deficiency and different phytohormones, especially GR24, a strigolactone analogue. Therefore, it is concluded that OsMAX1a and OsMAX1e are involved in the biosynthesis of strigolactones and regulated rice tillering.