Apo-siderophores promote growth of iron-deficient Arabidopsisplants by mobilizing iron from roots to shoots and reducing oxidative stress in roots

•The siderophore deferoxamine stimulates growth of iron-deficient Arabidopsis plants.•This growth promotion depends on the amount of iron stored in the roots.•It involves an enhanced remobilization of iron from root reserves to shoots.•Deferoxamine lowers root oxidative stress, counteracting growth inhibition by H2O2.•Thus, growth promotion by deferoxamine occurs via perturbation of iron homeostasis.