Chemical genomics attracts considerable attention by offering crucial tools for plant biology to regulate plant growth and development. However, most chemical screens are time consuming and laborious, and require a high input of resources. Here we describe a broadly applicable method for the ultrarapid high-content phenotypic screening of small chemical compound libraries for new plant growth regulators. The assay is based on determination of pollen tube growth and can be completed in less than 8 h. Using this method, we identified novel inhibitors and modulators of plant growth and showed that compounds selected using a Nicotiana tabacum-based assay were biologically active in other plants, such as Arabidopsis thaliana.
Keywords: Drug discovery; High-content screen; Phenotypic screen; Plant growth modulators; Plant growth regulators; Pollen germination; Pollen-based assays.