Reactive Oxygen Species in Plant Reproductive Development

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have emerged as critical regulators of plant reproductive processes, extending far beyond their traditional role as damaging by-products of metabolism. In flowering plants, finely tuned ROS accumulation and scavenging govern stages from gametophyte formation to fertilisation. During male gametophyte development, ROS generated by NADPH oxidases and mitochondrial activity influence tapetal programmed cell death, ensuring proper pollen maturation. In the pistil, controlled ROS levels in the stigma modulate pollen hydration, adhesion and germination, while gradients of ROS along the transmitting tract guide pollen tube growth towards the ovule. At the moment of pollen tube reception, a burst of ROS in the female gametophyte triggers pollen tube rupture and sperm release. The interplay between ROS and antioxidant systems, including enzymatic scavengers and redox-active small molecules, maintains cellular homeostasis and prevents oxidative damage. Environmental factors such as temperature stress can perturb redox balance, with consequences for yield-determining events in crop species. Advances in transcriptomics, live-cell imaging and redox biosensors have illuminated the spatial–temporal dynamics of ROS during reproductive phases, uncovering targets for improving fertilisation efficiency and stress resilience in agriculture.

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Reactive Oxygen Species in Plant Reproductive Development publication trend

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Technical terms

Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Chemically reactive molecules derived from oxygen that act as signalling entities or cause oxidative damage depending on concentration.

Gametophyte: The haploid phase in the plant life cycle that gives rise to male (pollen) or female (embryo sac) gametes.

Pollen tube: A cellular extension of the male gametophyte that grows through female tissues to deliver sperm cells to the ovule.

NADPH oxidase: A membrane-bound enzyme complex that produces superoxide radicals by transferring electrons from NADPH to molecular oxygen.

Programmed cell death (PCD): A genetically regulated process leading to orderly cellular disassembly, essential for tapetum degradation and pollen maturation.

Redox homeostasis: The balance between production and scavenging of ROS to maintain cellular function and signal transduction.

References

1. Transcriptomics reveal the involvement of reactive oxygen species production and sequestration during stigma development and pollination in Fraxinus mandshurica. Forestry Research (2024).
2. ROS in the Male–Female Interactions During Pollination: Function and Regulation. Frontiers in Plant Science (2020).
3. Reactive Oxygen Species as Mediators of Gametophyte Development and Double Fertilization in Flowering Plants. Frontiers in Plant Science (2020).
4. Patterns of ROS Accumulation in the Stigmas of Angiosperms and Visions into Their Multi-Functionality in Plant Reproduction. Frontiers in Plant Science (2016).
5. Unveiling the Redox Control of Plant Reproductive Development during Abiotic Stress. Frontiers in Plant Science (2016).