Chapter 12 - Signaling crosstalk between gibberellins—jasmonates—strigolactones in plant defense, growth, and development

Abstract

Phytohormones are endogenous chemical messengers and crucial players in a variety of plant functions throughout their lives. In addition to classical phytohormones such as gibberellins, strigolactones and jasmonates are critically involved in modulating plant growth, development, and their responses to various environmental constraints such as extreme temperatures, salinity, waterlogging, drought, high light and ultraviolet, heavy metals, pathogens, and herbivores. These phytohormones are intricately interconnected and work in concert during plant growth, development, and their response to different biotic and abiotic stimuli. Further, the interplay between many genes and gene families that is carefully orchestrated plays a crucial role in all defense and metabolic mechanisms of plants. Phytohormones are involved in almost all processes in plants by modulating different gene functioning. This chapter described the individual role and signaling crosstalk (synergistic and antagonistic actions) between gibberellins, strigolactones, and jasmonates in plant defense responses, growth, and development. This information will assist plant scientists in better understanding the ability of plants to recognize and synthesize different plant hormones and their crosstalk in normal and adverse environments.