Karrikin Signaling Acts Parallel to and Additively with Strigolactone Signaling to Regulate Rice Mesocotyl Elongation in Darkness[OPEN]

The karrikin signaling complex D14L-D3-OsSMAX1 acts parallel to and additively with the strigolactone signaling complex D14-D3-D53 to regulate rice mesocotyl elongation in the dark. Seedling emergence in monocots depends mainly on mesocotyl elongation, requiring coordination between developmental signals and environmental stimuli. Strigolactones (SLs) and karrikins are butenolide compounds that regulate various developmental processes; both are able to negatively regulate rice (Oryza sativa) mesocotyl elongation in the dark. Here, we report that a karrikin signaling complex, DWARF14-LIKE (D14L)-DWARF3 (D3)-O. sativaSUPPRESSOR OF MAX2 1 (OsSMAX1) mediates the regulation of rice mesocotyl elongation in the dark. We demonstrate that D14L recognizes the karrikin signal and recruits the SCF(D3)ubiquitin ligase for the ubiquitination and degradation of OsSMAX1, mirroring the SL-induced and D14- and D3-dependent ubiquitination and degradation of D53. Overexpression ofOsSMAX1promoted mesocotyl elongation in the dark, whereas knockout ofOsSMAX1suppressed the elongated-mesocotyl phenotypes ofd14landd3. OsSMAX1 localizes to the nucleus and interacts with TOPLESS-RELATED PROTEINs, regulating downstream gene expression. Moreover, we showed that the GR24 enantiomers GR24(5DS)and GR24(ent-5DS)specifically inhibit mesocotyl elongation and regulate downstream gene expression in a D14- and D14L-dependent manner, respectively. Our work revealed that karrikin and SL signaling play parallel and additive roles in modulating downstream gene expression and negatively regulating mesocotyl elongation in the dark.