Discovery of strigol synthase from cotton (Gossypium hirsutum): The enzyme behind the first identified germination stimulant for Striga

Societal Impact Statement Parasitic witchweeds (Striga species) pose a serious threat to food security in Africa, attacking cereal grains and legumes. Chemicals released from the host roots that initiate the life cycle of Striga are known as germination stimulants, predominantly strigolactones (SLs)...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Takatoshi Wakabayashi, Megumi Nakayama, Yurie Kitano, Masato Homma, Kenji Miura, Hirosato Takikawa, Masaharu Mizutani, Yukihiro Sugimoto
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-03-01
Series:Plants, People, Planet
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp3.10420
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Summary:Societal Impact Statement Parasitic witchweeds (Striga species) pose a serious threat to food security in Africa, attacking cereal grains and legumes. Chemicals released from the host roots that initiate the life cycle of Striga are known as germination stimulants, predominantly strigolactones (SLs). Strigol, the first identified SL, was isolated from the root exudates of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), a false host of Striga, over 50 years ago. The identification of strigol synthase in cotton establishes the complete biosynthesis pathway of this emblematic SL. This discovery has the potential to advance our understanding of SL‐mediated rhizosphere interactions and enhance cotton's effectiveness as a trap crop.
ISSN:2572-2611