Highlighting reactive oxygen species as multitaskers in root development

ELJEBBAWI, ALI; GUERRERO, YOSSMAYER DEL CARMEN RONDÓN; DUNAND, CHRISTOPHE; ESTEVEZ, JOSÉ MANUEL

iScience

Elsevier Inc.

Año: 2021 vol. 24

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are naturally produced by several redox reactionsduring plant regular metabolism such as photosynthesis and respiration. Due totheir chemical properties and high reactivity, ROS were initially described asdetrimental for cells during oxidative stress. However, they have been furtherrecognized as key players in numerous developmental and physiological processesthroughout the plant life cycle. Recent studies report the important roleof ROS as growth regulators during plant root developmental processes suchas in meristem maintenance, in root elongation, and in lateral root, root hair,endodermis, and vascular tissue differentiation. All involve multifaceted interplaysbetween steady-state levels of ROS with transcriptional regulators, phytohormones,and nutrients. In this review, we attempt to summarize recent findingsabout how ROS are involved in multiple stages of plant root development duringcell proliferation, elongation, and differentiation.