Strigolactone in Plants

Strigolactones are a class of plant hormones that play a crucial role in regulating plant growth, development, and responses to environmental stresses. These compounds were initially identified for their role in stimulating the germination of parasitic plants, but recent research has uncovered their broader significance in plant biology. Strigolactones influence various aspects of plant architecture, including shoot branching, root development, and leaf senescence. Moreover, they act as signalling molecules that help plants adapt to nutrient-deficient conditions and other environmental stresses. Understanding the multifaceted roles of strigolactones is essential for developing strategies to improve crop yield and resilience in the face of changing climatic conditions.The book provides an in-depth understanding of the role of strigolactones in plant growth and development. It explores the molecular pathways and mechanisms by which strigolactones exert their effects, and the potential applications of strigolactones in enhancing crop yield and stress resilience.It is suitable for researchers in plant science and agriculture, agronomists and agricultural consultants, and plant breeders and biotechnologists.

Dr Muhammad Waseem is an Associate Professor at the College of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China. He also serves as Assistant Professor of Botany at the Department of Botany, University of Narowal, Pakistan. He received his Ph.D. in plant molecular biology from Chongqing University, PR China. His research interests include transcriptional regulation of flowering time regulation, fruit ripening and development, and abiotic stresses such as salinity and drought. In addition, he has hands-on experience in next-generation sequencing data analysis, transcriptomics, and data visualization.

Professor Pingwu Liu is a full professor at the College of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University. Professor Liu's research expertise spans Brassicaceae vegetable germplasm innovation, protected horticulture techniques, and biological control strategies. His work integrates molecular breeding, plant physiology, and applied crop improvement, with a strong focus on tropical agricultural systems. He has published extensively in leading peer-reviewed journals, contributing to the understanding of non-coding RNAs in stress responses, QTL mapping in sugarcane, and molecular diversity in vegetable crops. His editorial contributions aim to advance knowledge in the areas of plant stress biology, molecular breeding, and sustainable crop production in the context of climate-resilient agriculture.

Dr Channa S. Prakash is Professor of crop genetics & biotechnology, and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Tuskegee University, USA where he has served on faculty since 1989. His research expertise is on genetic improvement research on food crops of importance to developing countries. Dr Prakash has been a global leader in enhancing the societal awareness of crop and food biotechnology issues around the world for nearly three decades. He is a leading proponent of science-based agricultural development, especially in the use of molecular techniques including genetically modified crops and genome editing. He provides technical, societal and ethical perspectives on the issue through his lectures and writings and on social media.

Dr Sajid Fiaz is Assistant Professor in the Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, The University of Haripur, Pakistan. He received his Ph.D. in crop genetics and breeding from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in 2019. Dr Fiaz's research interests include marker-assisted selection for agronomic traits, mutation breeding for biotic and abiotic stress resistance, QTL mapping, and genome editing for yield and quality traits in cereals.