karrikin
Sign in to savethumb|Chemical structures of karrikins (KAR1, KAR2, KAR3, and KAR4) Karrikins are a group of plant growth regulators found in the smoke of burning plant material. Karrikins help stimulate seed germination and plant development because they mimic a signaling hormone known as strigolactone. Strigolactones are hormones that help increase growth of symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the soil, which enhances plant growth and leads to an increase in plant branching.
Article
12 sectionsContents
- Chemical synthesis
- Karrikin taxonomy
- Mode of action
- Etymology
- The response to karrikins
- Structure and physicochemical properties
- Mechanism of action
- Signalling
- Effects on plant growth
- Evolution
- Response to wildfires
- References
thumb|Chemical structures of karrikins (KAR1, KAR2, KAR3, and KAR4) Karrikins are a group of plant growth regulators found in the smoke of burning plant material. Karrikins help stimulate seed germination and plant development because they mimic a signaling hormone known as strigolactone. Strigolactones are hormones that help increase growth of symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the soil, which enhances plant growth and leads to an increase in plant branching.
Smoke from wildfires or bushfires has been known for a long time to stimulate the germination of seeds. In 2004, the butenolide karrikinolide (KAR1) was shown to be responsible for this effect. Later, several closely related compounds were discovered in smoke, and are collectively known as karrikins.