Specific roles of strigolactones in plant physiology and remediation of heavy metals from contaminated soil

Strigolactones (SLs) have been implicated in various developmental processes of the plant, including the response against several abiotic stresses. It is well known as a class of endogenous phytohormones that regulates shoot branching, secondary growth and root morphology. This hormone facilitates plants in responding to nitrogen and phosphorus starvation by shaping the above and below ground structural design. SLs actively participate within regulatory networks of plant stress adaptation that are governed by phytohormones. Heavy metals (HMs) in soil are considered a serious environmental problem that causes various harmful effects on plants. SLs along with other plant hormones imply the role in plant architecture is far from being fully understood. Strategy to remove/remediation of HMs from the soil with the help of SLs has not been defined yet. Therefore, the present review aims to comprehensively provide an overview of SLs role in fine-tuning plant architectures, relation with other plant hormones under abiotic stress, and remediation of HMs contaminated soil using SLs. •Phytohormones play roles inter-connectedly and follow the mechanism of crosstalk signaling.•SLs termed as ‘ecological signal’ has shown a potential role towards the plant growth.•SLs helps to contribute to the removal of weed.•SLs along with other phytohormones imply roles in plant defense mechanism against abiotic stress.