How plants heal cuts and regrow roots
Scientists at IISER Pune have figured out how plants fix cuts and regrow roots from their cut leaf ends.
Their new study shows that when a plant gets hurt, its cells get flooded with reactive oxygen species (ROS), and then use autophagy—a cleanup process—to clear out damaged parts so healing can begin.
PLETHORA proteins help direct the cleanup
The team found that PLETHORA proteins help direct this cleanup by turning on specific genes (ATG8F and ATG8H) right where the plant is wounded.
Once things settle down, stem cell regulators accumulate at the wound site, allowing regeneration.
As Professor Kalika Prasad noted, plants share ROS-autophagy with animals, but PLETHORA provides added precision.
Implications for agriculture and crop resilience
This discovery could help farmers grow stronger crops that bounce back from damage or climate stress more easily.
It also opens up new ways to improve plant propagation in agriculture and horticulture.