Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of the SMXL Gene Family in Lavandula angustifolia

Abstract

SMXL proteins serve as central regulators of strigolactone (SL) and karrikin (KAR) signaling pathways, orchestrating key developmental processes including shoot branching, floral transition, photomorphogenesis and stress responses. However, the SMXL gene family has not been systematically characterized in Lavandula angustifolia. We identified 37 LaSMXL genes in the lavender genome. Phylogenetic and synteny analyses classified these proteins into four subgroups (Groups I–IV) and indicated that family expansion in lavender was mainly driven by whole-genome and segmental duplications, with most duplicated pairs evolving under strong purifying selection. Gene structure and motif analyses revealed high conservation within each subgroup. Promoter cis-element analysis suggested that LaSMXL genes are integrated into light-, hormone- and stress-responsive regulatory networks. RNA-seq profiling showed that most LaSMXL genes are weakly expressed, but a small subset displays pronounced tissue specificity and clear transcriptional responses to low temperature. Protein–protein interaction predictions and co-expression network analysis further placed highly expressed LaSMXLs within conserved SL/KAR and chloroplast/light-associated modules, alongside D14, KAI2, MAX2, CCD7/CCD8, and CYP711A. Together, these findings provide the first comprehensive overview of the SMXL gene family in lavender and identify candidate LaSMXL genes for future functional studies aimed at optimizing plant architecture and inflorescence-derived essential oil biosynthesis.