Question

Give a brief account on Programmed Cell Death (PCD).

Answer 1

1. Senescence is controlled by the plant’s own genetic program, and the death of the plant or plant parts consequent to senescence is called Programmed Cell Death (PCD).
2. In short, senescence of an individual cell is called PCD. The proteolytic enzymes involved in PCD in plants are phytases, and in animals are caspases.
3. The nutrients and other substrates from senescing cells and tissues are remobilised and reallocated to other parts of the plant that survive.
4. The protoplasts of developing xylem vessels and tracheids die and disappear at maturity to make them functionally efficient to conduct water for transport.
5. In aquatic plants, aerenchyma is normally formed in different parts of the plant, such as roots and stems, which enclose large air spaces that are created through PCD.
6. In the development of unisexual flowers, male and female flowers are present in earlier stages, but only one of these two completes its development, while the other undergoes abortion through PCD.