Reactive oxygen species: regulation of plant growth and development

Abstract

In plants, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are continuously produced from aerobic metabolic processes such as the photosynthetic and respiratory reactions. The cellular accumulation of ROS, which are highly reactive, is highly cytotoxic. Therefore, all the aerobic organisms have been evolved to develop efficient ROS-scavenging mechanisms. In recent years, the role of ROS in the regulation of plant growth and development has been identified. Increased ROS production is functionally coupled to the effects of plant growth regulators. The specific ROS that are related to specific plant hormones may control plant growth and development. The recent discovery of a tip-high, Ca2+-interdependent, ROS gradient produced by NADPH oxidase and its close association with polarized growth will provide information on the dual role of ROS in plants, as both the toxic byproducts of aerobic metabolism and the key regulators of growth and developmental pathways.