Strigolactones (SLs) are intriguing phytohormones that play essential roles in branch or tiller development and adaptation to nutrient availability. Tillering control is a means of improving the grain yield of cereal crops, particularly under nutrient-limited conditions. Recent research has provided new insights into the activation, termination and regulatory mechanisms of SL perception, as well as exciting insights into the low nitrogen (LN)-triggered phosphorylation of SL receptors, which is crucial for the tillering response to fluctuations in nitrogen availability. Low phosphorus (LP) induces accumulation of SLs, which inhibit tillering and facilitate the balance of nitrogen and phosphorus through the SL signaling pathway. Current understanding of SL-mediated nutrient responses offers promising avenues for molecular breeding strategies aimed at improving crop yield and resource use efficiency.