Compared to conventional methods, controlled temperature during the extraction and the addition of an organic modifier (acetonitrile, acetone) to the extraction solvent helped to tailor strigolactone isolation from low initial amounts of root tissue (150 mg fresh weight, FW) and root exudate (20 ml), which improved both strigolactone stability and sample purity. So far, the combination of tailored isolation-that would replace current unspecific, time-consuming and labour-intensive processing of large samples-and a highly sensitive method for the simultaneous profiling of a broad spectrum of strigolactones has not been reported.ĭepending on the sample matrix, two different strategies for the rapid extraction of the seven structurally similar strigolactones and highly efficient single-step pre-concentration on polymeric RP SPE sorbent were developed and validated. More insight in these signaling molecules is hampered by their extremely low concentrations in complex soil and plant tissue matrices, as well as their instability. The seed germination of parasitic plants induced by host strigolactones leads to serious agricultural problems worldwide. Simultaneously, root exuded strigolactones mediate rhizosphere signaling towards beneficial arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, but also attract parasitic plants. Strigolactones represent the most recently described group of plant hormones involved in many aspects of plant growth regulation.