Inhibition of shoot branching by new terpenoid plant hormones

• Published in: Nature Vol. 455; no. 7210; pp. 195 - 200
• Main Authors: Umehara, Mikihisa, Hanada, Atsushi, Yoshida, Satoko, Akiyama, Kohki, Arite, Tomotsugu, Takeda-Kamiya, Noriko, Magome, Hiroshi, Kamiya, Yuji, Shirasu, Ken, Yoneyama, Koichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: LONDON Springer Nature 11.09.2008; Nature Publishing; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Analysis; Arabidopsis - drug effects; Arabidopsis - genetics; Arabidopsis - growth & development; Biological and medical sciences; Biosynthesis; branching; Chemical agents; Flowers & plants; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fungi; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Genetic aspects; Hormones; lactones; Lactones - analysis; Lactones - chemistry; Lactones - metabolism; Lactones - pharmacology; Multidisciplinary Sciences; Mutation; Oryza - drug effects; Oryza - growth & development; Oryza - metabolism; Oryza - parasitology; Oryza sativa; Parasitism; Parasitism and symbiosis; Plant Growth Regulators - analysis; Plant Growth Regulators - chemistry; Plant Growth Regulators - metabolism; Plant Growth Regulators - pharmacology; Plant hormones; Plant physiology; Plant physiology and development; Plant Roots - parasitology; Plant Shoots - drug effects; Plant Shoots - growth & development; rice; root exudates; Science & Technology; Science & Technology - Other Topics; Seedlings; Seeds; shoots; Signal transduction; steroid lactones; Striga hermonthica; strigolactones; Symbiosis; Terpenes - analysis; Terpenes - chemistry; Terpenes - metabolism; Terpenes - pharmacology; terpenoids; tillering; Vegetative apparatus, growth and morphogenesis. Senescence; GERMINATION STIMULANTS; PHOSPHORUS DEFICIENCY; GIBBERELLIC-ACID; ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI; ARABIDOPSIS; PARASITIC PLANTS; STRIGOL; APICAL-DOMINANCE; ROOT PARASITES; RICE; Chemical communication; Host parasite relation; Monocotyledones; Five membered ring; Plant biology; Biochemistry; Biosynthesis; Oxygen heterocycle; Allelochemicals; Arabidopsis thaliana; Morphogenesis; Oryza sativa; Molecular signal; Endogenous; Cruciferae; Gramineae; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Scrophulariaceae; Plant growth substance; Physiology; Inhibition; Branching; Terpenoid; Biochemical compound; Chemical structure; Striga hermonthica; Lactone; Tricyclic compound; Biological activity; Biological compound; Vegetative apparatus; Above ground plant part; Herbaceous plant; Spermatophyta; Phytohormone; Carotenoid; Shoot; Parasitic plant
• ISSN: 0028-0836; 1476-4687; 1476-4679
• DOI: 10.1038/nature07272

Shoot branching is a major determinant of plant architecture and is highly regulated by endogenous and environmental cues. Two classes of hormones, auxin and cytokinin, have long been known to have an important involvement in controlling shoot branching. Previous studies using a series of mutants with enhanced shoot branching suggested the existence of a third class of hormone( s) that is derived from carotenoids, but its chemical identity has been unknown. Here we show that levels of strigolactones, a group of terpenoid lactones, are significantly reduced in some of the branching mutants. Furthermore, application of strigolactones inhibits shoot branching in these mutants. Strigolactones were previously found in root exudates acting as communication chemicals with parasitic weeds and symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Thus, we propose that strigolactones act as a new hormone class - or their biosynthetic precursors - in regulating above- ground plant architecture, and also have a function in underground communication with other neighbouring organisms.