Maize mutant for strigolactone biosynthesis shows an altered response to drought stress and nutrient deficiency

Nowadays, crops are increasingly subjected to adverse environmental conditions due to climate change. Plants respond to abiotic stresses through a sophisticated interplay among various components. Recent studies show that strigolactones (SLs) play a key role in this mechanism, so it is crucial to deepen our understanding about this class of plant hormones. For this purpose, maize seedlings of wild type B73 and of ZmCCD8, a knockout mutant line for SL biosynthesis, were grown in a growth chamber and subjected to water and nutritional stress conditions . To assess the impact of drought and nutritional deficiency on both genotypes , different morphological, physiological and molecular measurements were performed. Our results highlighted significant differences in terms of growth and photosynthetic pigment content between genotypes, both in control and in stress conditions. Furthermore, the differential transcription of few previously selected genes seems to play a central role in determining their different responses. These preliminary results, lead to confirm the involvement of SLs in the response to abiotic stress in maize and lay the foundations for further in-depth studies.