Plastic film mulching enhances flavonoid accumulation in the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis

Our findings demonstrate that plastic film mulching optimizes the rhizosphere to not only activate the primary metabolism requisite for rapid growth but also, acting as an environmental cue, to initiate a WRKY- and AP2/ERF-centric regulatory cascade that systematically enhances root-specific flavonoid biosynthesis. This work provides a molecular rationale for employing this agronomic strategy to achieve high-yield, high-quality cultivation of <i>S. baicalensis</i>.