Strigolactones promote flowering by inducing the miR319-- module in tomato.

Strigolactones are a class of phytohormones with various functions in plant development, stress responses, and in the interaction with (micro)organisms in the rhizosphere. While their effects on vegetative development are well studied, little is known about their role in reproduction. We investigated the effects of genetic and chemical modification of strigolactone levels on the timing and intensity of flowering in tomato ( L.

Antiherpetic Activity of a Root Exudate from .

The rise of drug resistance to antivirals poses a significant global concern for public health; therefore, there is a pressing need to identify novel compounds that can effectively counteract strains resistant to current antiviral treatments. In light of this, researchers have been exploring new approaches, including the investigation of natural compounds as alternative sources for developing potent antiviral therapies. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate the antiviral properties of the organic-soluble fraction of a root exudate derived from the tomato plant in the context of herpesvirus infections.

Strigolactones promote the localization of the ABA exporter ABCG25 at the plasma membrane in root epidermal cells of Arabidopsis thaliana.

The phytohormones strigolactones crosstalk with abscisic acid (ABA) in acclimation to osmotic stress, as ascertained in leaves. However, our knowledge about underground tissues is limited, and lacking in Arabidopsis: whether strigolactones affect ABA transport across plasma membranes has never been addressed. We evaluated the effect of strigolactones on the localization of ATP BINDING CASSETTE G25 (ABCG25), an ABA exporter in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Strigolactones as Broad-Spectrum Antivirals against β-Coronaviruses through Targeting the Main Protease M.

The current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and the likelihood that new coronavirus strains will emerge in the immediate future point out the urgent need to identify new pan-coronavirus inhibitors. Strigolactones (SLs) are a class of plant hormones with multifaceted activities whose roles in plant-related fields have been extensively explored. Recently, we proved that SLs also exert antiviral activity toward herpesviruses, such as human cytomegalovirus (HCMV).

Strigolactones as a hormonal hub for the acclimation and priming to environmental stress in plants.

Strigolactones are phytohormones with many attributed roles in development, and more recently in responses to environmental stress. We will review evidence of the latter in the frame of the classic distinction among the three main stress acclimation strategies (i.e.

Transcriptome Analysis Points to BES1 as a Transducer of Strigolactone Effects on Drought Memory in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Strigolactones (SLs) are carotenoid-derived phytohormones governing a wide range of physiological processes, including drought-associated stomatal closure. We have previously shown in tomato that SLs regulate the so-called after-effect of drought, whereby stomatal conductance is not completely restored for some time during recovery after a drought spell, irrespective of the water potential. To ease the elucidation of its molecular underpinnings, we investigated whether this SL effect is conserved in Arabidopsis thaliana by contrasting the physiological performances of the wild-type with SL-depleted (more axillary growth 4, max4) and insensitive (dwarf 14, d14) mutants in a drought and recovery protocol.

Strigolactones affect phosphorus acquisition strategies in tomato plants.

Strigolactones (SLs) are plant hormones that modulate morphological, physiological and biochemical changes as part of the acclimation strategies to phosphorus (P) deficiency, but an in-depth description of their effects on tomato P-acquisition strategies under P shortage is missing. Therefore, in this study, we investigate how SLs impact on root exudation and P uptake, in qualitative and quantitative terms over time, in wild-type and SL-depleted tomato plants grown with or without P. Under P shortage, SL-depleted plants were unable to efficiently activate most mechanisms associated with the P starvation response (PSR), except for the up-regulation of P transporters and increased activity of P-solubilizing enzymes.

The Potential of the Synthetic Strigolactone Analogue GR24 for the Maintenance of Photosynthesis and Yield in Winter Wheat under Drought: Investigations on the Mechanisms of Action and Delivery Modes.

Strigolactones (SLs) have been implicated in many plant biological and physiological processes, including the responses to abiotic stresses such as drought, in concert with other phytohormones. While it is now clear that exogenous SLs may help plants to survive in harsh environmental condition, the best, most effective protocols for treatment have not been defined yet, and the mechanisms of action are far from being fully understood. In the set of experiments reported here, we contrasted two application methods for treatment with a synthetic analog of SL, GR24.

Evaluation of Bioactivity of Strigolactone-Related Molecules by a Quantitative Luminometer Bioassay.

The binding of strigolactones to their receptor, the α/β hydrolase DWARF14 (D14), leads to the modulation of transcriptional activity by destabilization of specific transcriptional corepressors via proteasomal degradation. Subsequently, strigolactones also promote D14 degradation by the same pathway. Here we describe an innovative quantitative bioassay based on Arabidopsis transgenic lines expressing AtD14 fused to the firefly luciferase, developed to identify new strigolactone analogs capable to activate the strigolactone signaling.

A novel strigolactone-miR156 module controls stomatal behaviour during drought recovery.

miR156 is a conserved microRNA whose role and induction mechanisms under stress are poorly known. Strigolactones are phytohormones needed in shoots for drought acclimation. They promote stomatal closure ABA-dependently and independently; however, downstream effectors for the former have not been identified.

Structure-activity relationships of strigolactones via a novel, quantitative in planta bioassay.

Strigolactones (SLs) are plant hormones with various functions in development, responses to stress, and interactions with (micro)organisms in the rhizosphere, including with seeds of parasitic plants. Their perception for hormonal functions requires an α,β-hydrolase belonging to the D14 clade in higher plants; perception of host-produced SLs by parasitic seeds relies on similar but phylogenetically distinct proteins (D14-like). D14 and D14-like proteins are peculiar receptors, because they cleave SLs before undergoing a conformational change that elicits downstream events.

Exogenous strigolactone interacts with abscisic acid-mediated accumulation of anthocyanins in grapevine berries.

Besides signalling to soil organisms, strigolactones (SLs) control above- and below-ground morphology, in particular shoot branching. Furthermore, SLs interact with stress responses, possibly thanks to a crosstalk with the abscisic acid (ABA) signal. In grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.

Strigolactones: mediators of osmotic stress responses with a potential for agrochemical manipulation of crop resilience.

After quickly touching upon general aspects of strigolactone biology and functions, including structure, synthesis, and perception, this review focuses on the role and regulation of the strigolactone pathway during osmotic stress, in light of the most recent research developments. We discuss available data on organ-specific dynamics of strigolactone synthesis and interaction with abscisic acid in the acclimatization response, with emphasis on the ecophysiological implications of the effects on the stomatal closure process. We highlight the importance of considering roots and shoots separately as well as combined versus individual stress treatments; and of performing reciprocal grafting experiments to work out organ contributions and long-distance signalling events and components under more realistic conditions.

Evaluating Fumonisin Gene Expression in Fusarium verticillioides.

Transcript levels of key genes in a biosynthetic pathway are often taken as a proxy for metabolite production. This is the case of FUM1, encoding the first dedicated enzyme in the metabolic pathway leading to the production of the mycotoxins Fumonisins by fungal species belonging to the genus Fusarium. FUM1 expression can be quantified by different methods; here, we detail a protocol based on quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), by which relative or absolute transcript abundance can be estimated in Fusaria grown in vitro or in planta.

Low levels of strigolactones in roots as a component of the systemic signal of drought stress in tomato.

Strigolactones (SL) contribute to drought acclimatization in shoots, because SL-depleted plants are hypersensitive to drought due to stomatal hyposensitivity to abscisic acid (ABA). However, under drought, SL biosynthesis is repressed in roots, suggesting organ specificity in their metabolism and role. Because SL can be transported acropetally, such a drop may also affect shoots, as a systemic indication of stress.

The Legitimate Name of a Fungal Plant Pathogen and the Ethics of Publication in the Era of Traceability.

When more scientists describe independently the same species under different valid Latin names, a case of synonymy occurs. In such a case, the international nomenclature rules stipulate that the first name to appear on a peer-reviewed publication has priority over the others. Based on a recent episode involving priority determination between two competing names of the same fungal plant pathogen, this letter wishes to open a discussion on the ethics of scientific publications and points out the necessity of a correct management of the information provided through personal communications, whose traceability would prevent their fraudulent or accidental manipulation.

Osmotic stress represses strigolactone biosynthesis in Lotus japonicus roots: exploring the interaction between strigolactones and ABA under abiotic stress.

Strigolactone changes and cross talk with ABA unveil a picture of root-specific hormonal dynamics under stress. Strigolactones (SLs) are carotenoid-derived hormones influencing diverse aspects of development and communication with (micro)organisms, and proposed as mediators of environmental stimuli in resource allocation processes; to contribute to adaptive adjustments, therefore, their pathway must be responsive to environmental cues. To investigate the relationship between SLs and abiotic stress in Lotus japonicus, we compared wild-type and SL-depleted plants, and studied SL metabolism in roots stressed osmotically and/or phosphate starved.

LDS1-produced oxylipins are negative regulators of growth, conidiation and fumonisin synthesis in the fungal maize pathogen Fusarium verticillioides.

Oxylipins are fatty acid-derived signaling compounds produced by all eukaryotes so far investigated; in mycotoxigenic fungi, they modulate toxin production and interactions with the host plants. Among the many enzymes responsible for oxylipin generation, Linoleate Diol Synthase 1 (LDS1) produces mainly 8-hydroperoxyoctadecenoic acid and subsequently different di-hydroxyoctadecenoic acids. In this study, we inactivated a copy of the putative LDS1 ortholog (acc.