Karrikinolide 3-ethyl ester is a synthetic karrikinolide which acts as a key germination trigger for many species. Karrikinolide 3-ethyl ester was first published by Sun and colleagues from Dupont Corporation and is a major by-product in the synthesis of karrikin 2 (desmethylated karrikinolide). Karrikinolide enhances expression of the gibberellic acid biosynthetic genes, GA3ox1 and GA3ox2, during seed imbibition.