Core principles which explain variation in respiration across biological scales

Area of Science:

• Plant Biology
• Physiology
• Ecology

Background:

• Plant respiration is a fundamental process with broad implications across biochemistry, physiology, and ecology.
• Diverse scientific disciplines, including metabolic engineering, crop breeding, and climate modeling, study plant respiration for varied objectives.
• Quantifying variation in respiration across biological scales is crucial for interdisciplinary understanding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and explain distinct mechanisms underlying variation in plant respiratory rates and functions across biological scales.
• To connect different research perspectives on plant respiration by highlighting common underlying principles.
• To foster interdisciplinary thinking in plant respiration research.

Main Methods:

• The review synthesizes existing knowledge on plant respiration.
• It identifies five core principles that explain variation in respiratory rates and functions.
• Mechanisms relevant to these principles are explained in the context of plant biology.

Main Results:

• Five core principles governing plant respiration are elucidated: distinct functions, metabolic flexibility, supply-demand interaction, acclimation via enzyme capacity, and respiration as a lifestyle-defining trait.
• These principles provide a framework for understanding respiratory variation across biological scales.
• Connecting diverse research perspectives through these principles is shown to be beneficial.

Conclusions:

• A unified understanding of plant respiration can be achieved by appreciating its variation through five core principles.
• These principles help bridge research across different scales and disciplines.
• This integrated approach enhances our ability to address complex challenges in plant science.