Photo-oxidative stress during leaf, flower and fruit development

Chloroplasts are essential for plant growth and development through their roles in photosynthesis and signaling. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants play crucial roles in regulating developmental processes, from organ initiation to senescence, not only in leaves but also in some types of flowers and fruits. Flowers and fruits bearing chloroplasts during their early stages of development share some similarities with leaves but also important differences in terms of photosynthesis-derived ROS, the duration and extent of photooxidative stress, and redox signaling. Here, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the common mechanisms underlying redox signaling in leaves, flowers, and fruits, focusing on key spatiotemporal processes that determine specific responses in each organ. Chloroplasts play a central role in cellular processes during organ development, with photooxidative stress a key effector of redox signaling during organ development in leaves as well as in some types of flowers and fruits.