IISER Pune Research Uncovers Plant Regeneration Pathway Through Stress Control
Can an injury serve as a new beginning rather than an end? A groundbreaking study conducted by researchers from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune, in collaboration with other institutions, has identified a crucial biological pathway in plants. This pathway allows injured areas to reboot and initiate growth of new structures instead of shutting down completely.
Autophagy: The Cellular Clean-Up System Activated by Injury
Upon detection of injury, a specific set of protein regulators triggers the activation of autophagy, a cellular recycling and clean-up system. This process plays a vital role in regulating reactive oxygen species (ROS) at the wound site. The findings provide a scientific explanation for the long-observed phenomenon where wounded tissues efficiently regenerate new roots, while other tissues may fail to do so.
Akansha Ganguly, the first author of the paper and a graduate research fellow in the Department of Biology at IISER Pune, explained, "In simple terms, we discovered that regeneration is not solely dependent on growth hormones; it involves managing stress and resetting the cell. When injury occurs, stress signaling chemicals known as ROS increase significantly. Excessive accumulation of stress can be harmful to survival and must be controlled. Plants utilize specific regulators called plethoras in response to injury, which activate autophagy—an ancient cellular clean-up system present in most living organisms. Autophagy removes damaged cells in the injured region and reduces ROS levels. Once stress is managed, stem cells are activated, facilitating healing and organ regeneration."
Decoding the Molecular Basis of Plant Regeneration
It has been only 15-20 years since scientists began to understand the molecular mechanisms behind regeneration in plants. The research team noted that previous studies had not fully explored how wounding induces immense cellular stress and how this stress is managed. Ganguly added, "We pondered this question for over five years. Plants have numerous stress-signaling molecules and autophagy regulators. Our challenge was to identify the specific ones involved in the organ regeneration process."
Importance of Stress Management in Wound Response
Why is managing stress in response to wounds so critical? Kalika Prasad, a professor of biology at IISER Pune and the corresponding author of the paper, emphasized, "It is essential for all life. The mechanisms underlying stress regulation are relevant for both plants and animals. Understanding regeneration could enhance how crops recover from physical damage and assist horticulture industries in improving propagation through cuttings."
This research not only advances our knowledge of plant biology but also holds potential applications in agriculture and horticulture, offering new strategies for crop resilience and efficient plant propagation.
