The Oxidative Paradox in Low Oxygen Stress in Plants

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are part of aerobic environments, and variations in the availability of oxygen (O2) in the environment can lead to altered ROS levels. In plants, the O2 sensing machinery guides the molecular response to low O2, regulating a subset of genes involved in metabolic adaptations to hypoxia, including proteins involved in ROS homeostasis and acclimation. In addition, nitric oxide (NO) participates in signaling events that modulate the low O2 stress response. In this review, we summarize recent findings that highlight the roles of ROS and NO under environmentally or developmentally defined low O2 conditions. We conclude that ROS and NO are emerging regulators during low O2 signalling and key molecules in plant adaptation to flooding conditions.