Strigolactone-mediated stimulation of secondary xylem proliferation in stems

Abstract

Secondary xylem (wood) accounts for a large proportion of the terrestrial biomass. Understanding how secondary xylem develops and proliferates is a challenge to enhance our capacities for biomass production. Recent reports revealed that the plant hormone strigolactone is key for the development of secondary xylem. Here, I describe a protocol for strigolactone-mediated stimulation of secondary xylem proliferation in stems. The protocol has been tested in Arabidopsis and Eucalyptus and can be adjusted to other species.