ABSTRACT
Strigolactone (SL), a plant hormone derived from carotenoids, has been recognized for its pivotal role in regulating plant growth. Nevertheless, the influence of SL on tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) under low-light conditions remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the impact of SL on various aspects of tall fescue, including its morphological characteristics, photosynthesis, levels of antioxidant and concentrations of SL, under low light intensity (LI). The findings showed that GR24, an artificial analog of SL, positively influenced several parameters of tall fescue under LI. In particular, it enhanced the morphological features such as plant height, leaf width, and biomass, while reducing the number of tillers. Furthermore, it improved the efficiency of photosynthetic by enhancing chlorophyll fluorescence and the gas exchange parameters, mitigating cell damage and improving the contents of antioxidants by increasing the levels of antioxidant enzymes and non-enzymatic antioxidant compounds. Moreover, treatment with SL led to elevated concentrations of this hormone and the levels of gene expression in related pathways. Owing to the immaturity of the genetic transformation system in tall fescue, partial validation through transgenic and mutant materials was obtained using Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). These findings demonstrate that SL alleviates the physiological indicators of tall fescue under LI stress and enhances its tolerance to shade. Additionally, it suggests that SL may regulate the shade tolerance of tall fescue through the involvement of FaD14.