Plant autophagy: the hero who balances zinc and iron

Nutritional imbalances can adversely affect crop health and agricultural productivity

Researchers from Meiji University in Japan revealed that autophagy, a process of self-degradation in cells, may play an unexpected role in restoring the balance of zinc and iron in plants

The balance of nutrients and minerals in the soil is essential for optimal plant growth

Zinc is an important trace element and plays an important role in many important life processes

Researchers from Meiji University in Japan have deeply explored the possible mechanism of zinc-iron balance or "internal environment balance", and explored the potential role of autophagy (a process of self-degradation and circulation) in restoring the zinc-iron balance of plant cells

Corresponding author Dr.

Autophagy has previously been shown to increase the availability of zinc in plant systems

Excessive zinc is also toxic to plants, and autophagy is also the savior in this case

Starting from the role of autophagy in zinc-iron homeostasis, the researchers continued to elucidate the nutritional perception mechanism that activates autophagy

In general, autophagy is a feedback mechanism that can respond to stress induced by zinc deficiency or excessive zinc, thereby changing the biologically effective components of nutrients in plant cells

Summarizing the long-term application of their findings, Dr.

Autophagy, known for its typical degradation effects, may become a hero of plant health!

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