Plant roots communicating with glowing fungal networks.

Decoding Nature's Signals: The Secrets of Lotuslactone and Plant Communication

Soraya Malik in Science & Nature September 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how lotuslactone, a unique compound found in Lotus japonicus, is revolutionizing our understanding of plant communication and symbiosis."

Plants, much like humans, engage in complex communication, using a variety of signals to interact with their environment and other organisms. Among these signals are strigolactones (SLs), a class of compounds known for their role in triggering seed germination in parasitic plants and facilitating beneficial relationships with fungi.

Recent research has unveiled a fascinating new player in this communication network: lotuslactone. Found in the roots of Lotus japonicus, a model legume, lotuslactone is a non-canonical strigolactone with a unique structure and biological activities. This discovery is prompting scientists to rethink our understanding of plant-microbe interactions and the potential for innovative agricultural applications.

This article delves into the world of lotuslactone, exploring its discovery, structure, biological functions, and potential implications for agriculture and environmental science. Join us as we uncover the secrets of this intriguing compound and its role in the intricate web of plant communication.

What Makes Lotuslactone Special?

Plant roots communicating with glowing fungal networks.

Lotuslactone's uniqueness lies in its structure. While it shares some features with canonical strigolactones—namely, the AB-ring and the enol ether-bridged D-ring—it lacks the C-ring and features a seven-membered cycloheptadiene in its A-ring, similar to medicaol, a major SL in Medicago truncatula. This distinct structure influences its biological activity, making it less potent than 5-deoxystrigol (5DS) but comparable to methyl carlactonoate (MeCLA) in inducing hyphal branching in the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Gigaspora margarita.

The AM symbiosis is a mutually beneficial relationship between plants and certain fungi. The plant provides the fungus with carbon, while the fungus helps the plant absorb nutrients from the soil. This interaction is crucial for plant health and productivity, particularly in nutrient-poor soils. Strigolactones play a key role in initiating this symbiosis by attracting and stimulating the growth of AM fungi.

Unique Structure: Lotuslactone's distinctive arrangement sets it apart from other strigolactones.
Hyphal Branching: It effectively promotes hyphal branching in AM fungi, essential for establishing symbiotic relationships.
Seed Germination: Lotuslactone strongly stimulates seed germination in certain parasitic plants.

Lotuslactone's activity extends beyond fungal interactions. It exhibits strong activity in stimulating seed germination in parasitic plants like Phelipanche ramosa and Orobanche minor, though it is less effective on Striga hermonthica. This dual role highlights the complex signaling functions of strigolactones, influencing both beneficial and detrimental interactions in the rhizosphere.

The Future of Lotuslactone Research

The discovery of lotuslactone opens new avenues for research in plant signaling and agricultural biotechnology. Further studies are needed to fully elucidate its biosynthetic pathway, understand its precise role in AM symbiosis, and explore its potential applications in controlling parasitic weeds. By harnessing the power of lotuslactone and other plant signals, we may be able to develop more sustainable and efficient agricultural practices that benefit both crops and the environment.

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This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2018.10.034, Alternate LINK

Title: Lotuslactone, A Non-Canonical Strigolactone From Lotus Japonicus

Subject: Horticulture

Journal: Phytochemistry

Publisher: Elsevier BV

Authors: Xiaonan Xie, Narumi Mori, Kaori Yoneyama, Takahito Nomura, Kenichi Uchida, Koichi Yoneyama, Kohki Akiyama

Published: 2019-01-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is lotuslactone and why is it important in plant biology?

Lotuslactone is a non-canonical strigolactone found in the roots of *Lotus japonicus*. Its importance stems from its unique structure and biological activities, particularly in plant communication and symbiosis. It is critical in understanding how plants interact with fungi and parasitic plants, making it relevant for agricultural applications. Its structural uniqueness lies in the absence of the C-ring and the presence of a seven-membered cycloheptadiene in its A-ring, differentiating it from canonical strigolactones. Further study of lotuslactone can give a deeper understanding of the biosynthetic pathways that are important to AM Symbiosis.

How does lotuslactone differ structurally and functionally from other strigolactones like 5-deoxystrigol (5DS) and methyl carlactonoate (MeCLA)?

Lotuslactone differs structurally from canonical strigolactones by lacking the C-ring and featuring a seven-membered cycloheptadiene in its A-ring, similar to medicaol. Functionally, while lotuslactone shares the AB-ring and the enol ether-bridged D-ring with other strigolactones, its unique structure affects its potency. It is less potent than 5-deoxystrigol (5DS) but comparable to methyl carlactonoate (MeCLA) in inducing hyphal branching in the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus *Gigaspora margarita*. This highlights that structural variations in strigolactones can significantly alter their biological activity and interaction with organisms in the rhizosphere.

What role does lotuslactone play in the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, and why is this symbiosis important for plants?

Lotuslactone plays a role in initiating arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis by promoting hyphal branching in AM fungi like *Gigaspora margarita*. This symbiosis is crucial because it's a mutually beneficial relationship where the plant provides the fungus with carbon, and the fungus aids the plant in absorbing nutrients, especially in nutrient-poor soils. Strigolactones, including lotuslactone, act as signaling molecules to attract and stimulate the growth of these beneficial fungi, enhancing nutrient uptake and overall plant health. While the precise mechanism is not completely understood, understanding the role of lotuslactone can assist future research and development.

Besides AM fungi, what other organisms are affected by lotuslactone, and what are the implications of these interactions?

Lotuslactone also affects parasitic plants like *Phelipanche ramosa* and *Orobanche minor*, stimulating their seed germination. However, it is less effective on *Striga hermonthica*. This dual role highlights the complex signaling functions of strigolactones, influencing both beneficial (AM fungi) and detrimental (parasitic plants) interactions. The implications are significant for agriculture, as understanding these interactions could lead to strategies to control parasitic weeds while promoting beneficial fungal associations. Further research is needed to fully elucidate its biosynthetic pathway.

What are the potential applications of lotuslactone in agriculture, and what future research is needed to realize these applications?

Lotuslactone holds potential in agriculture for controlling parasitic weeds and enhancing arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis. By understanding how lotuslactone stimulates germination in weeds like *Phelipanche ramosa* and *Orobanche minor*, targeted strategies can be developed to inhibit their growth or manipulate their germination patterns. Simultaneously, its role in promoting AM symbiosis can be harnessed to improve nutrient uptake in crops, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers. Future research should focus on elucidating the biosynthetic pathway of lotuslactone, understanding its precise role in AM symbiosis, and exploring methods to synthesize or enhance its production in beneficial contexts. This includes the development of crops that can signal with the AM in the most optimum way possible.