Autophagy in plants

Autophagy is a cellular process in plants that helps degrade and recycle damaged organelles and proteins, maintaining cellular homeostasis and survival during stress. Under nutrient scarcity or stressful conditions, autophagy enables the plant to break down non-essential cellular components to release energy and essential nutrients. This process also plays a role in plant growth, senescence, and immune responses, as it helps remove infected or dysfunctional cellular parts. Autophagy has attracted interest in agricultural research, as enhancing this process in crops may improve their resilience to stress and improve yield. By studying autophagy, scientists aim to develop crops better adapted to harsh conditions, ultimately supporting food security.