About the Editors xi List of Contributors xiii Preface xix Section I Introduction and Fundamentals 1 1 General Overview of Apocarotenoids 3 Anu Pandita and Deepu Pandita 1.1 Introduction 3 1.2 Apocarotenoids Sources 4 1.3 Classification of Apocarotenoids 5 1.4 Structural Diversity of Apocarotenoids 6 1.5 Significance of Apocarotenoids 6 1.6 Conclusion 11 2 Apocarotenoid Biosynthesis, Signaling, and Regulatory Mechanisms in Plants 15 Sunil Kumar Verma, Devendra Singh, and Anshu Mishra 2.1 Introduction 15 2.
2 The Significance of Apocarotenoids and Their Functions 16 2.3 The Structural Diversity of Plant Apocarotenoids and Their Metabolic Basis 22 2.4 Molecular Regulation of Apocarotenoid Biosynthesis 24 2.5 Genetic Perspectives on Apocarotenoid Natural Variations 26 2.6 Conclusion and Prospects 28 3 Carotenoid-derived Diapocarotenoids: From Pigments to Plant Growth Regulators 39 Chao Guo, Weiqiang Li, Yuchen Miao, and Kun-Peng Jia 3.1 Introduction 39 3.2 Nomenclature and Identification of Carotenoid-derived DIAPOs in Plants 40 3.3 Biosynthesis of Carotenoid-derived DIAPOs in Plants 42 3.
4 Anchorene Regulates Root Development Through Modulating Auxin Homeostasis 46 3.5 Conclusion and Perspectives 47 4 Apocarotenoid Metabolism and Redox Signaling in Plants 53 Muhammad Aamir Manzoor, Irfan Ali Sabir, Iftikhar Hussain Shah, Muhammad Usman, Muhammad Azam, Ghulam Murtaza, Alam Sher, Muhammad Waheed Riaz, Zishan Ahmad, and Cheng Song 4.1 Introduction 53 4.2 Redox Signaling in Plants 54 4.3 Interplay Between Apocarotenoid Metabolism and Redox Signaling 57 4.4 Conclusion and Future Perspectives 59 Section II Key Apocarotenoids and Their Roles 63 5 Strigolactones: Discovery, Biological Activity, Biosynthesis, and Applications 65 Peng Zhong, Jianhua Jia, Jiali Liu, and Xiaohui Yan 5.1 Introduction 65 5.2 Discovery of SLs 66 5.
3 Biological Activities of SLs 68 5.4 Biosynthesis of SLs 77 5.5 Conclusion and Future Perspectives 79 6 Strigolactone Perception and Response Under Nitrogen and Phosphorus Deficiency 91 Ishrat Mehmood, Abdullah, Kaiser Iqbal Wani, Muhammad Aamir Manzoor, and Tariq Aftab 6.1 Introduction 91 6.2 Biosynthesis and Signaling Pathways of SLs in Plants 92 6.3 SL-mediated Root Architecture Modulation Under N Deficiency 94 6.4 P-Starvation-induced SL Signaling and Root System Remodeling 95 6.5 Interplay of N and P Deficiencies in SL Regulation 96 6.
6 SLs as Mediators of Crop Resilience and Soil Microbiome Dynamics 97 6.7 Emerging Applications and Future Directions in SL Research 98 6.8 Conclusion 100 7 Zaxinone, A Potential Plant Hormone: Biosynthesis, Signaling, and Applications 105 Ishrat Mehmood, Kaiser Iqbal Wani, Abdullah, Muhammad Aamir Manzoor, and Tariq Aftab 7.1 Introduction 105 7.2 Identification and Characterization of Zaxinone: A Novel Plant Growth Regulator 106 7.3 Zaxinone Biosynthesis: From Molecules to Plant Growth 107 7.4 Zaxinone: Decoding Nature''s Hidden Messenger in Plant Health and Hormonal Harmony 109 7.5 Harnessing Zaxinone: Applications in Plant Growth, Stress Adaptation, and Symbiosis 110 7.
6 Conclusion 111 8 Zaxinone Mimics: Potential Agricultural Applications for Global Food Security 115 Shamshad Ahmad Khan, Nauf Al Araimi, and Priyanka Verma 8.1 Introduction 115 8.2 Apocarotenoids and Zaxinone Identification 116 8.3 Zaxinone Mimics 117 8.4 Role of MiZax in Rice 120 8.5 MiZax in Other Crops 123 8.6 MiZax and Striga Infestation 124 8.7 Prospects of Zaxinone and Its Mimics in Crop Improvement 124 9 β-Cyclocitral: Signaling During Stress Acclimatization in Plants 127 Vinay Kumar Dhiman, Sudarshna, Vivek Kumar Dhiman, and Devendra Singh 9.
1 Introduction 127 9.2 β-Cyclocitral: Formation and Derivatives 128 9.3 β-Cyclocitral and Salicylic Acid Interplay 130 9.4 Could It Be a New Agricultural Tool? 131 9.5 β-Cyclocitral Signaling in Plants Under Abiotic Stress 131 9.6 JA-induced β-Cyclocitral and Protection Against Bacterial Blight in Rice 132 9.7 Role in Regulation of Root Architecture 132 9.8 β-Cyclocitral and Nonvascular Plants: Allelochemical Response 133 9.
9 β-Cyclocitral and Herbivory 133 9.10 β-Cyclocitral Role in Metabolite Formation 134 9.11 Conclusion 134 10 β-Ionone: A Key Apocarotenoid in Plants and Wine 141 Alice Vilela and Berta Gonçalves 10.1 Introduction 141 10.2 Role in Plants 142 10.3 β-Ionone Signaling and Mycorrhization 144 10.4 Key Enzymes Involved in β-Ionone Synthesis 145 10.5 Heterologous Production of β-Ionone in Microbial Cell Factories 145 10.
6 Industrial Applications of β-Ionone 150 10.7 β-Ionone in Wine 151 10.8 Final Remarks 152 Section III Saffron Apocarotenoids: Special Focus 159 11 Saffron Apocarotenoids 161 Braulio Edgar Herrera Cabrera, Rafael Salgado Garciglia, Luis Germán López Valdez, Alejandra Hernández Garcia, Adriana Delgado Alvarado, Francisco Javier Verduzco Miramón, and Hebert Jair Barrales-Cureño 11.1 Occurrence and Structure 161 11.2 Biosynthetic Pathways of Major Saffron Apocarotenoids 164 11.3 Impact of Abiotic Stress on Saffron Apocarotenoid Signals 166 11.4 Crocin and Crocetin Biosyntheses 166 11.5 Chemical Compositions 168 11.
6 Key Enzymes Involved 169 11.7 Micro-RNAs Involved in Apocarotenoid Biosynthesis in Saffron 169 12 Saffron Apocarotenoids: Insights into Evolution, Gene Regulation, and Genetic Engineering Approaches for Crop Improvement 173 Aamir Hussain Pala, Adnan Shakeel, Jewel Jameeta Noor, Aabida Gul, Uzma Jan, Mehnaz Shakeel, and Nasheeman Ashraf 12.1 Introduction 173 12.2 Biosynthesis and Regulation of Saffron Apocarotenoids 174 12.3 Evolution of the Carotenoid Biosynthesis Pathway Genes 177 12.4 Structure, Function, and Potential Uses of Crocin and Picrocrocin 179 12.5 Genomic Approaches to Enhance Apocarotenoids in Saffron 183 12.6 Conclusion 184 13 Cell Biofactories for the Sustainable Production of Saffron Apocarotenoids 189 Tingan Zhou and Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro 13.
1 Introduction 189 13.2 Saffron Apocarotenoids 190 13.3 Biosynthetic Pathway of Saffron Apocarotenoids 192 13.4 Microbial Cell Factories 194 13.5 Plant Cell Factories 196 14 Engineering Crocin Production in Heterologous Host Plants 203 Anu Pandita and Deepu Pandita 14.1 Introduction 203 14.2 Biofortified Plants for Saffron Apocarotenoid Production 206 14.3 Conclusion 213 Section IV Physiological Roles and Stress Responses 217 15 Apocarotenoids in Plant Biology: Defense Signaling and Lignin Interactions 219 Nayaab Shahir Pandit, Mohsin Shafi, Ishrat Mehmmod, and Kaiser Iqbal Wani 15.
1 Introduction 219 15.2 Lignin: A Structural and Defensive Polymer 220 15.3 Biosynthesis of Apocarotenoids: From Carotenoids to Signaling Molecules 220 15.4 Key Apocarotenoids and Their Diverse Functions 221 15.5 Apocarotenoid Signaling in Plant Defense Mechanisms 222 15.6 Apocarotenoid Interactions: Crosstalk with Hormones and Microbes 223 15.7 Lignin: Biosynthesis, Structure, and Regulation 224 15.8 Analytical Approaches for Studying Apocarotenoids and Lignin 228 15.
9 Agricultural and Biotechnological Applications 229 15.10 Illustrative Examples: From Model Systems to Crops 230 15.11 Future Directions and Perspectives 231 15.12 Conclusion 231 16 Role of Carotenoid Cleavage Dioxygenase-encoding Genes in Mitigating Stress in Plants 237 Najwa Shabir and Nasheeman Ashraf 16.1 Introduction 237 16.2 The CCD Family 238 16.3 Discovery and Early Functional Studies 239 16.4 Structural Features and Catalytic Architecture of CCDs 240 16.
5 Classification and Functional Roles of CCDs in Plant Stress Responses 241 16.6 Recent Discoveries of CCD Variants and Their Lineage-specific Functional Adaptations 245 16.7 Regulation of CCD Genes Under Stress Conditions 246 16.8 Expanding Functional Horizons of CCDs 247 17 Impact of AM Symbiosis on Apocarotenoid Production in Plants 257 Ishrat Mehmood, Abdullah, Kaiser Iqbal Wani, Muhammad Aamir Manzoor, Tariq Aftab, and Nayaab Shahir Pandit 17.1 Introduction 257 17.2 Unveiling the Symbiotic Relationship: AM Fungi and Plant Health 259 17.3 Apocarotenoids: Multifunctional Metabolites in Plant Physiology 259 17.4 Molecular Mechanisms Driving AM Fungi-induced Apocarotenoid Biosynthesis in Plants 262 17.
5 Functional Roles of Apocarotenoids in Stress Adaptation 265 17.6 Ecological and Agricultural Implications of AM-induced Apocarotenoid Production 266 17.7 Challenges and Considerations 268 17.8 Conclusion 268 18 Metabolic Engineering of Apocarotenoids in Plants 277 Maria Lobato-Gómez and Antonio Granell 18.1 Engineering Plants for the Production of Exotic Apocarotenoids 277 18.2 Carotenoids 278 18.3 Apocarotenoids 280 18.4 Metabolic Engineering of Plant Apocarotenoids 281 References 297 Index 305.