Strigolactone Signalling in Biotic Interactions

Plant strigolactone biology encompasses the roles of these carotenoid-derived hormones in regulating plant growth, development, and interactions with surrounding organisms. Increasing evidence shows that strigolactones function as chemical signals in relationships between plants and both pathogenic and beneficial microbes, as well as potentially other biological partners. In the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis specifically, root-secreted strigolactones stimulate fungal spore germination and hyphal branching, supporting the establishment of the association. Recent advances in molecular genetics, genomics, metabolomics, and structural biology have also expanded our understanding of strigolactone biosynthesis, transport, and perception, and of how these signalling pathways have evolved across different biological groups. Although an increasing number of studies have revealed that strigolactones may play broader and more complex roles in biological interactions, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms and ecological functions of these interactions remains very limited.This Research Topic aims to explore strigolactone-mediated biotic interactions by integrating genomics, metabolomics, biochemistry, structural biology, and molecular genetics. We welcome contributions that address the following core areas:• How different biological groups perceive strigolactones and the relationships among their signalling pathways;• The metabolic, physiological, and molecular pathways through which strigolactones regulate plant-microbe interactions;• The ecological functions of strigolactone signalling and how these mechanisms can be applied to sustainable agricultural production;• The roles of karrikins or other small molecules operating through related signalling pathways.We primarily focus on symbiotic interactions between plants and microbes, but we also welcome studies on other biotic interactions. Suitable manuscript types include original research, brief research reports, reviews, mini-reviews, methods, opinions, and perspectives. Topic editors: Qia Wang, Da Cao, Imran Haider, Rubina Jibran Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/85730/strigolactone-signalling-in-biotic-interactions