Reactive Oxygen Species in Plants: Metabolism, Signaling, and Oxidative Modifications
Chao Zheng, Jianping Chen, Xiao‐Wei Wang, Ping Li
Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) serve as crucial signaling molecules that facilitate the interactions between plants and environmental stimuli, thereby influencing a wide range of physiological and biochemical processes, such as vegetative apex development and organ morphogenesis. In response to environmental stresses, plants enhance ROS production to initiate a robust protective response. To manage excessive ROS levels, plants have developed a sophisticated antioxidative defense system comprising both enzymatic and non-enzymatic components, which work synergistically to scavenge ROS and alleviate ROS-induced deleterious effects on biomolecules. This review provides a comprehensive overview of ROS metabolism, signaling transduction pathways, and their implications for the oxidative modification of nucleic acids, lipids, and proteins within plant cells.