%0 Journal Article
%T Chromosome-scale pearl millet genomes reveal CLAMT1b as key determinant of strigolactone pattern and Striga susceptibility.
%A Kuijer HNJ
%A Wang JY
%A Bougouffa S
%A Abrouk M
%A Jamil M
%A Incitti R
%A Alam I
%A Balakrishna A
%A Alvarez D
%A Votta C
%A Chen GE
%A Martínez C
%A Zuccolo A
%A Berqdar L
%A Sioud S
%A Fiorilli V
%A de Lera AR
%A Lanfranco L
%A Gojobori T
%A Wing RA
%A Krattinger SG
%A Gao X
%A Al-Babili S
%J Nat Commun
%V 15
%N 1
%D 2024 Aug 12
%M 39134551
%F 17.694
%R 10.1038/s41467-024-51189-w
%X The yield of pearl millet, a resilient cereal crop crucial for African food security, is severely impacted by the root parasitic weed Striga hermonthica, which requires host-released hormones, called strigolactones (SLs), for seed germination. Herein, we identify four SLs present in the Striga-susceptible line SOSAT-C88-P10 (P10) but absent in the resistant 29Aw (Aw). We generate chromosome-scale genome assemblies, including four gapless chromosomes for each line. The Striga-resistant Aw lacks a 0.7 Mb genome segment containing two putative CARLACTONOIC ACID METHYLTRANSFERASE1 (CLAMT1) genes, which may contribute to SL biosynthesis. Functional assays show that P10CLAMT1b produces the SL-biosynthesis intermediate methyl carlactonoate (MeCLA) and that MeCLA is the precursor of P10-specific SLs. Screening a diverse pearl millet panel confirms the pivotal role of the CLAMT1 section for SL diversity and Striga susceptibility. Our results reveal a reason for Striga susceptibility in pearl millet and pave the way for generating resistant lines through marker-assisted breeding or direct genetic modification.