Pune Scientists Reveal The Cellular Secret Behind How Plants Repair And Regrow
Pune Scientists Reveal The Cellular Secret Behind How Plants Repair And Regrow
Pune, February 5, 2026: How does a damaged plant manage to heal itself and grow back—sometimes from just a small fragment? Scientists at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune have uncovered the biological mechanism that allows plants to recover from injury and regenerate new tissues.
In a study published on February 2 in the international journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a research team led by Professor Kalika Prasad identified a tightly regulated cellular repair system that enables plants to survive damage and restart growth.
When a plant is cut—whether at the leaf, stem, or root—its cells immediately enter a state of stress. This stress is marked by a rapid surge in reactive oxygen species (ROS), unstable molecules that can harm cells if they build up. While excessive ROS can be destructive, controlled amounts serve as an early warning signal, alerting the plant to injury.
The IISER Pune researchers discovered that plants counter this stress by activating autophagy, a cellular recycling process often described as the cell’s internal clean-up mechanism. Autophagy removes damaged components and worn-out organelles created by injury, helping restore balance inside the cell. As this clean-up progresses, ROS levels are brought back to a safe range, preventing further cellular damage.
Importantly, the study found that this response is highly organised. Two specific autophagy-related genes—ATG8F and ATG8H—play a crucial role in enabling roots to regenerate from cut leaf ends. These genes are regulated by PLETHORA proteins, plant-specific regulators that control growth and development.
According to the researchers, once autophagy reduces cellular stress, signals linked to stem cell activity increase at the wound site. This shift allows the plant to initiate regeneration, forming new roots and tissues. The PLETHORA proteins ensure that autophagy is activated at the right location and time, creating a stable environment before new growth begins.
“What stands out is that plants and animals share a similar early response to injury—a burst of stress molecules followed by autophagy,” said Prof Prasad. “However, plants uniquely use PLETHORA proteins to precisely guide this process, which is key to their remarkable regenerative ability.”
He explained that cutting a plant triggers a sharp rise in harmful molecules, but plants respond by switching on an internal repair system. Once the damage is cleared and stress is controlled, growth signals take over, allowing regeneration to begin.
The research was led by PhD scholar Akansha Ganguly, with contributions from undergraduate students at IISER Pune and collaborators from the Netherlands, China, and Germany. Funding support came from national agencies, including the Department of Biotechnology and the Anusandhan National Research Foundation.
Beyond solving a long-standing biological puzzle, the findings could have wide practical applications. A better understanding of how plants manage stress and regenerate could improve crop recovery after damage, enhance vegetative propagation, and strengthen plant resilience under changing climate conditions.
As plants that fail to regenerate may eventually disappear, insights from this study could play an indirect but important role in protecting ecosystems and supporting sustainable agriculture in the face of environmental challenges.
