Novel plant growth promoting molecules: A comprehensive review

Abstract

This study provides a comprehensive review of novel organic small molecules with plant growth-promoting activity that were reported internationally between 2005 and 2026. It aims to offer a systematic molecular template for agricultural chemistry research. The study systematically reviews three major categories: natural, semisynthetic, and synthetic molecules. Among the molecules, 103 are natural molecules, 19 are semi-synthetic molecules and 71 are synthetic molecules. It highlights the functional diversity of these molecules in growth promotion, fruit ripening and yield enhancement, seed germination promotion, and plant resistance enhancement. Natural molecules display novel and unique structures, whereas semi-synthetic molecules enhance core activity through chemical optimization. Synthetic molecules provide a versatile platform for targeted molecular design. This review lays a solid foundation for the rapid identification of promising active molecules in agricultural chemistry. It helps reduce redundant studies and supports the development and application of novel plant growth regulators.