Autophagic cell death in plants

Abstract Autophagy is a catabolic process that degrades cytoplasmic components under cellular stress conditions such as nutrient deprivation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, and pathogen infection. This process involves the formation of autophagosomes, which sequester cytoplasmic materials before fusing with lysosomes (or vacuoles in plant cells) for degradation. Historically, autophagy has been considered primarily as a stress adaptation mechanism, but emerging evidence indicates its involvement in programmed cell death (PCD), termed autophagic cell death (ACD). This dual role suggests that autophagy can promote either cell survival or cell death, depending on the biological context. While significant research has focused on autophagy’s protective functions, its contribution to ACD remains less understood. Here, we review the physiological functions of autophagy, with particular emphasis on recently identified mechanisms underlying ACD in plants. We discuss how ACD contributes to various plant stress responses and developmental processes, providing insights for future research.