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Updated: Jan 28, 2026

Imaging and Analysis for Quantifying Maize (Zea mays) Abiotic Stress Phenotypes
Published on: March 28, 2025
Linking Autophagy to Abiotic and Biotic Stress Responses
Santiago Signorelli1, Łukasz Paweł Tarkowski2, Wim Van den Ende2
1Laboratory of Molecular Plant Biology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Departamento de Biología Vegetal, Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de la República, Montevideo 12900, Uruguay.
Abstract:
Autophagy is a process in which cellular components are delivered to lytic vacuoles to be recycled and has been demonstrated to promote abiotic/biotic stress tolerance. Here, we review how the responses triggered by stress conditions can affect autophagy and its signaling pathways. Besides the role of SNF-related kinase 1 (SnRK1) and TOR kinases in the regulation of autophagy, abscisic acid (ABA) and its signaling kinase SnRK2 have emerged as key players in the induction of autophagy under stress conditions. Furthermore, an interplay between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and autophagy is observed, ROS being able to induce autophagy and autophagy able to reduce ROS production. We also highlight the importance of osmotic adjustment for the successful performance of autophagy and discuss the potential role of GABA in plant survival and ethylene (ET)-induced autophagy.
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