Abstract
Cellular redox homeostasis is crucial for normal plant growth and development. Each developmental stage of plants has a specific redox mode and is maintained by various environmental cues, oxidants, and antioxidants. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species are the chief oxidants in plant cells and participate in cell signal transduction and redox balance. The production and removal of oxidants are in a dynamic balance, which is necessary for plant growth. Especially during reproductive development, pollen development depends on ROS-mediated tapetal programmed cell death to provide nutrients and other essential substances. The deviation of the redox state in any period will lead to microspore abortion and pollen sterility. Meanwhile, pollens are highly sensitive to environmental stress, in particular to cell oxidative burst due to its peculiar structure and function. In this regard, plants have evolved a series of complex mechanisms to deal with redox imbalance and oxidative stress damage. This review summarizes the functions of the main redox components in different stages of pollen development, and highlights various redox protection mechanisms of pollen in response to environmental stimuli. In continuation, we also discuss the potential applications of plant growth regulators and antioxidants for improving pollen vigor and fertility in sustaining better agriculture practices.
Highlights
In the process of growth and development, plants are constantly stimulated by various environmental cues, which interfere with their redox homeostasis
Depending on the dosage of oxidants, the cellular structure and metabolism will be damaged to varying degrees, and eventually this will lead to microspore abortion and pollen sterility
By studying the redox system during stamen development under stressful conditions, the importance of their action/interaction may be clarified. This further improves our understanding on vital prospects of the redox signaling cascade in plant growth and development
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Redox regulation and signaling have come into sight as crucial mechanisms that regulate the sexual reproduction of plants, in which ROS, nitric oxide (NO), and other classical antioxidants and biomolecules are closely involved [14]. These redox components (Figure 1) are essential for maintaining redox homeostasis and ensuring normal anther development and pollen germination [15,16]. HSPs, sugars, and nonprotein amino acids (such as proline) are identified to regulate pollen oxidative stresses [1,21]
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