Roles of ROS and redox in regulating cell‐to‐cell communication: Spotlight on viral modulation of redox for local spread

Abstract

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are important signalling molecules that influence many aspects of plant biology. One way in which ROS influence plant growth and development is by modifying intercellular trafficking through plasmodesmata (PD). Viruses have evolved to use PD for their local cell‐to‐cell spread between plant cells, so it is therefore not surprising that they have found ways to modulate ROS and redox signalling to optimise PD function for their benefit. This review examines how intracellular signalling via ROS and redox pathways regulate intercellular trafficking via PD during development and stress. The relationship between viruses and ROS‐redox systems, and the strategies viruses employ to control PD function by interfering with ROS‐redox in plants is also discussed.

Plasmodesmal closure elicits stress responses

“…Plant immune responses include an upregulation of callose synthesis at plasmodesmata leading to a decrease in plasmodesmal aperture, which reduces cellto-cell movement of molecules (as recently reviewed by Wang et al 2021b;German et al 2023;Alazem and Burch-Smith 2024). The plasmodesmal aperture itself is regulated via callose deposition and degradation at the plasmodesmal neck by callose synthases (CalS) and β-glucanases respectively (Levy et al 2007;Vatén et al 2011).…”