Strigolactones in Plant Stress Adaptation: Mechanisms and Agricultural Potential

Abstract

Abiotic stresses have significant negative effects on the growth, development, and productivity of crop plants, which are critical to global agricultural production and ecosystem stability. Strigolactones (SLs), a family of carotenoid-derived plant phytohormones, have been identified as playing key roles in plant development and adaptive responses to environmental stimuli. Initially recognized as signaling molecules in host-parasite interactions and as symbiotic signals for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, SLs are now understood to have broader physiological and molecular functions related to plant stress tolerance. SLs are crucial in regulating key developmental processes, including shoot branching, root system architecture, and flowering. Their biosynthesis is highly regulated under abiotic stress conditions, including drought, salinity, temperature extremes, and nutrient deficiency. To fully understand the mediating roles of SLs, it is necessary to investigate their biosynthetic pathways, structural diversity, and classification in plants. Given their multifunctional characteristics, SLs represent potential targets for enhancing crop performance in unfavorable environmental conditions. This review uniquely integrates recent molecular advances and practical implications of SL signaling in multi-stress environments, distinguishing it from earlier reviews.