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Age-Dependent Abiotic Stress Resilience in Plants
Tom Rankenberg1, Batist Geldhof2, Hans van Veen1
1Plant Ecophysiology, Institute of Environmental Biology, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Trends in Plant Science
|January 29, 2021
Summary
Plant developmental age significantly influences responses to environmental stress. This review explores age-related abiotic stress resilience mechanisms in plants, focusing on organ and whole-plant levels.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Environmental Stress Physiology
- Plant Aging
Background:
- Plant susceptibility to environmental stresses varies with developmental age.
- Understanding age-related stress responses is crucial for plant resilience.
- Research on abiotic stress resilience lags behind biotic stress resilience studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on ontogenic resistance to abiotic stresses in plants.
- To highlight age-related stress resilience at organ (leaf) and whole-plant levels.
- To discuss mechanisms, functional relevance, and future research directions.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on plant aging and abiotic stress.
- Analysis of age-dependent stress responses at organ and plant levels.
- Synthesis of existing data on resilience mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Developmental stage is a key factor in plant stress responses.
- Differential susceptibility to abiotic stresses is evident across plant ontogeny.
- Mechanisms underlying age-related abiotic stress resilience are beginning to be elucidated.
Conclusions:
- Plant age is a critical determinant of abiotic stress tolerance.
- Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms and functional significance of age-related resilience.
- Bridging the knowledge gap in abiotic stress resilience is essential for plant science.
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