Functional Characterization of Soybean Strigolactone Biosynthesis and Signaling Genes in Arabidopsis MAX Mutants and GmMAX3 in Soybean Nodulation

The study investigated the role of soybean strigolactone biosynthesis and signaling genes in Arabidopsis MAX mutants and soybean nodulation, focusing on GmMAX3b. Researchers found that soybean genes could complement Arabidopsis max mutants, indicating functional conservation. Overexpression of GmMAX3b in soybean increased nodulation and hormone levels such as jasmonic acid (JA) and auxin (IAA), while decreasing abscisic acid (ABA). Conversely, knockdown of GmMAX3b reduced nodulation and had opposite hormone effects. These findings highlighted the significant role of GmMAX3b-mediated strigolactone biosynthesis and signaling in soybean root hair formation and nodulation, likely through hormone regulation.