Organ identity shapes autophagy dynamics and selectivity in plants

Abstract

Plants, with their unique evolutionary trajectory and complex physiological adaptations, have developed organ-specific mechanisms to cope with various environmental stresses. Autophagy, an essential catabolic process, plays an important role in maintaining plant growth, immunity, and overall fitness. In this study, we reveal the spatio-temporal dynamics of autophagic responses in Arabidopsis thaliana roots and shoots under different stress conditions, including AZD8055 treatment and carbon and nitrogen depletion. Our findings demonstrate that roots exhibit stronger autophagic activity than shoots under all three conditions, highlighting the unique adaptations of these two organs. Furthermore, we dissect the selectivity of autophagy in targeting organelles, revealing immediate, delayed, and no uptake categories. Additionally, we observe organelles coexisting within autophagic bodies, shedding light on the complexity of cargo selection. This study enhances our understanding of plant specific autophagy dynamics, emphasizing its role in sustaining the source-sink functions and offering insights into plant adaptation to diverse stressors.