Syringaldehyde is a novel smoke-derived germination cue for the native fire-chasing tobacco, <i>Nicotiana attenuata</i>

Abstract Smoke-derived seed germination is an important trait for plants to colonize postfire habitats. The well-characterized smoke-derived chemicals of karrikins germinate seeds species not known occur after fires in nature. Hence, the ecologically relevant cues smoke remain be explored native plants. With fire-chaser, Nicotiana attenuata , we revisit a bioassay-driven fractionation liquid identify cues. By combining bioassay-guided and comparative unbiased metabolomics, developed robust efficient method smoke. Syringaldehyde (SAL) was re-identified as cue fractions that promote germination. SAL found produced during wildfires plant's habitat, efficiently adsorbed N. from aqueous solutions readily leached soil accurately predicted boundaries natural fire events reflect occurrence populations. We propose this species.