The crosstalk of autophagy and metabolism in plants

Abstract

Autophagy in plants promotes cellular longevity and nutrient recycling by degrading unwanted organelles and damaged cytoplasmic components. This process is essential for plant stress tolerance and nutrient management. In all plant organs, autophagy plays a critical role in maintaining cellular homeostasis, and defects in autophagy lead to severe metabolic disorders. Conversely, metabolic signals regulate autophagic activity at multiple levels. Here, we review how autophagy contributes to nutrient management at different organizational levels and how metabolism modulates autophagy across plant organs.