Decoupling the Good from the Bad: Translational Strategies for Strigolactone Application in Agriculture

Area of Science:

• Plant science
• Agricultural science
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Strigolactones (SLs) are key plant metabolites regulating shoot architecture, arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis, and parasitic weed germination.
• SLs show promise in agriculture for weed control, drought tolerance, and yield enhancement, but their dual functions pose challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and analyze strategies for decoupling beneficial from detrimental strigolactone functions in agriculture.
• To evaluate the progress, limitations, and future directions of SL-based crop improvement technologies.

Main Methods:

• The review adopts a precision intervention framework, distinguishing functional and situational decoupling strategies.
• Progress in parasitic weed control, abiotic stress mitigation, and agronomic trait optimization using SLs is evaluated.

Main Results:

• Decoupling strategies offer potential for targeted agricultural applications of strigolactones.
• Scientific gaps and practical barriers hinder the translation of SL technologies, necessitating innovative solutions.

Conclusions:

• Sustainable implementation of SL-based technologies requires a critical understanding of decoupling successes and trade-offs.
• Further research is needed to overcome barriers and optimize SL applications for enhanced crop production and resilience.