The mapping torus group of a free group automorphism is hyperbolic relative to the canonical subgroups of polynomial growth

We prove that the mapping torus group Fn ⋊α Z of any automorphism α of a free group Fn of finite rank n ≥ 2 is weakly hyperbolic relative to the canonical (up to conjugation) family H(α) of subgroups of Fn which consists of (and contains representatives of all) conjugacy classes that grow polynomially under iteration of α. Furthermore, we show that Fn ⋊α Z is strongly hyperbolic relative to the mapping torus of the family H(α).