Strigolactone: Signaling and Functions in Plants

Strigolactones (SLs), a group of phytohormone derived from carotenoid, regulate several developmental processes that adapt plant architecture to nutrient availability, including the regulation of shoot branching, root architecture, seedling photomorphogenesis, leaf shape, senescence, and stress tolerance. Strigolactones serve dual functions, as both endogenous and exogenous signaling molecules. SLs secreted by plant roots into the rhizosphere will induce hyphal branching of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), promoting plant-fungal symbiosis. Parasitic plants can also recognize the secreted strigolactones to identify host plants. Nevertheless, strigolactones promote the germination of root-parasitic weeds so that they can develop parasitically on host plants, resulting in severe crop losses. In addition, many synthetic SL analogs have been reported to induce apoptosis of some cancer cell lines. In recent years, significant advances have enriched our understanding of SL biology. This Research Topic will present current knowledge covering a wide range of recent advances in the signaling and functions in plants.

We welcome submissions of original research papers, reviews, and methods, including (but not limited to) research on the following sub-themes:
-Novel regulatory genes in the strigolactone biosynthesis pathway
-Strigolactone signal perception and transduction
-Strigolactones’ function in plant development and stress responses
-Strigolactone in the crosstalk with other phytohormones
-Strigolactone in symbiotic and parasitic interactions
-Strigolactone in agricultural and biomedical applications