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Zaxinone is an apocarotenoid regulatory metabolite required for normal rice growth and development.In addition,zaxinone has a large application potential in agriculture,due to its growth-promoting activity and capability to alleviate infestation by the root parasitic plant Striga through decreasing strigolactone(SL)production.However,zaxinone is poorly accessible to the scientific community because of its labo-rious organic synthesis that impedes its further investigation and utilization.In this study,we developed easy-to-synthesize and highly efficient mimics of zaxinone(MiZax).We performed a structure-activity rela-tionship study using a series of apocarotenoids distinguished from zaxinone by different structural fea-tures.Using the obtained results,we designed several phenyl-based compounds synthesized with a high-yield through a simple method.Activity tests showed that MiZax3 and MiZax5 exert zaxinone activity in rescuing root growth of a zaxinone-deficient rice mutant,promoting growth,and reducing SL content in roots and root exudates of wild-type plants.Moreover,these compounds were at least as efficient as zax-inone in suppressing transcript level of SL biosynthesis genes and in alleviating Striga infestation under greenhouse conditions,and did not negatively impact mycorrhization.Taken together,MiZax are a prom-ising tool for elucidating zaxinone biology and investigating rice development,and suitable candidates for combating Striga and increasing crop growth.