# LpMAX2 Is a Strigolactone/Karrikin Signaling Component in Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)

## TL;DR

This study identifies LpMAX2 as a key protein in perennial ryegrass that helps plants respond to environmental stress and is similar to proteins in other plants.

## Contribution

The study identifies LpMAX2 as a conserved strigolactone/karrikin signaling component in perennial ryegrass with conserved drought tolerance functions.

## Key findings

- LpMAX2 interacts with AtD14 and LpD14 in an SL-dependent manner.
- Overexpression of LpMAX2 in Arabidopsis rescued drought tolerance and growth phenotypes.
- LpMAX2 is conserved in SL/KAR signaling and has potential for improving stress resilience in forage grasses.

## Abstract

Perennial ryegrass is a widely cultivated cool-season forage and turf grass species whose growth and development are limited by drought and high temperature. MAX2 is an F-box leucine-rich repeat (LRR) protein, which serves as a central component of strigolactone (SL) and karrikin (KAR) signaling pathways, involved in multiple growth and developmental processes as well as stress response. Here, we identified LpMAX2, a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) homolog of Arabidopsis MAX2 (AtMAX2) and rice D3. LpMAX2 can interact with AtD14 and LpD14 in an SL-dependent manner, implying functional conservation with AtMAX2. Overexpression of LpMAX2 in the Arabidopsis max2-3 mutant partially rescued leaf morphology, hypocotyl elongation, and branching phenotypes, while fully restoring drought tolerance, highlighting the evolutionarily conserved roles of MAX2 in plant growth and drought resistance. In conclusion, LpMAX2 is evolutionarily conserved in SL/KAR signaling pathways, highlighting its potential function in drought adaptation. In addition to elucidating the biological function of LpMAX2, this study identifies a promising genetic target for enhancing stress resilience in forage grasses through biotechnological approaches.