The Apocarotenoid β-Cyclocitric Acid Elicits Drought Tolerance in Plants

β-Cyclocitral (β-CC) is a volatile compound deriving from 1O2 oxidation of β-carotene in plant leaves. β-CC elicits a retrograde signal, modulating 1O2-responsive genes and enhancing tolerance to photooxidative stress. Here, we show that β-CC is converted into water-soluble β-cyclocitric acid (β-CCA) in leaves. This metabolite is a signal that enhances plant tolerance to drought by a mechanism different from known responses such as stomatal closure, osmotic potential adjustment, and jasmonate signaling. This action of β-CCA is a conserved mechanism, being observed in various plant species, and it does not fully overlap with the β-CC-dependent signaling, indicating that β-CCA induces only a branch of β-CC signaling. Overexpressing SCARECROW-LIKE14 (SCL14, a regulator of xenobiotic detoxification) increased drought tolerance and potentiated the protective effect of β-CCA, showing the involvement of the SCL14-dependent detoxification in the phenomenon. β-CCA is a bioactive apocarotenoid that could potentially be used to protect crop plants against drought. [Display omitted] •β-Cyclocitral produced by 1O2 oxidation of β-carotene oxidizes to β-cyclocitric acid•β-Cyclocitric acid triggers a signaling cascade leading to drought tolerance•β-Cyclocitric acid is water soluble and offers perspectives in crop protection•The protective action of β-cyclocitric acid does not rely on stomatal closure Biological Sciences; Plant Biology; Plant Genetics; Plant Physiology