Search for a command to run...
Constant climatic changes, limited agricultural land, and an ever-increasing human population pose significant challenges to global food security and require alternative ways to combat this problem. Plant growth regulators have been seen as an option to effectively increase crop yields and enhance plant resistance to grow in restricted conditions. Zaxinone, considered a regulatory metabolite for the growth of rice, is an apocarotenoid and is seen as a major player in the field of the agricultural crop industry. Zaxinone is also known for reducing the parasitic growth of Striga species specific to the roots of various plants by lowering strigolactone synthesis. Alongside zaxinone, its mimics have also revealed growth promotion in certain vegetable and cereal crops without affecting mycorrhizal relationships and have been seen as effective biostimulants to promote the growth of plants. Its organic synthesis is laborious, which results in its high demand and low supply to the scientific community. It has a possible key role in assuring global food security. This chapter will encompass the various aspects of zaxinone and its role as a biostimulant to enhance the crop yield, its various mimics available, and their role in lowering the strigolactone content as well as Striga parasitic infestation of the plants. The chapter will also discuss the future perspectives of zaxinone mimics (MiZax) and their probable role in agricultural crop improvements, considering the global food security status as well.