Reactive Oxygen Species: Boon or Bane

Author: Abhishek Chitranashi*, Ashok Kumar and Shruti Kumari

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Abstract

Reactive oxygen species are unavoidable consequences of aerobic metabolism which is generated mainly in cellular chloroplast, mitochondria, peroxisome and apoplastic space. ROS are double edged sword of plant life as it not only modifies cellular components and causes cell death but under defined window of ROS concentration it also regulate various plant growth and developmental processes such as cell wall synthesis, pathogen defence, plant senescence, plant cell death and stomatal behaviour. Plant is surfeited with strong enzymatic and non-enzymatic ROS scavenging mechanism which maintains ROS homeostasis in cell and avoid unavoidable toxicity. ROS is constantly produced at baseline levels under favourable settings. They are unable to cause damage, however, since they are scavenged by several antioxidant processes. Stress factors such as salt, drought, harsh temperatures, heavy metals, pollution, high irradiance, pathogen infection, and others disrupt the delicate balance between ROS

Keywords

Reactive oxygen species, stomatal behavior, ROS scavenging mechanism.

Conclusion

In recent years, scientists have focused on the deteriorative effects of ROS/RNS and the mechanisms demonstrating the involvement of antioxidants in mitigating these free radicals. These free radicals are unavoidable because they are results of regular cell metabolism. Reactive oxygen species appears to be double edged sword of life. Plants are surfeited with strong ROS scavenging mechanism to avoid the toxic level of accumulation. A balance of ROS production and ROS scavenging is maintained in the cell. Plant strategically utilizes ROS for growth and development processes such as pathogen defence, programme cell death and stomatal behaviour under normal condition. However, under stress condition plant forced to spend more energy on ROS scavenging to maintain ROS homeostasis. Imbalance in ROS homeostasis leads to accumulation of ROS and thereby modification of cellular components. Although recent research insight into the ROS mediated plant developmental processes has solved many enigm

References

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How to cite this article

Abhishek Chitranashi, Ashok Kumar and Shruti Kumari (2022). Reactive Oxygen Species: Boon or Bane. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 14(1): 675-680.