A new study from the University of Helsinki reveals how plant mitochondria draw molecular oxygen away from chloroplasts, an interaction not previously documented. The discovery sheds new light on how plants regulate oxygen inside their tissues, with implications for understanding plant metabolism and stress acclimation. The research, led by Dr. Alexey Shapiguzov (Ph. D., Docent) from the University’s Centre of Excellence in Tree Biology on the Viikki campus, has been published in Plant Physiology.

Oxygen gas is central to plant metabolism, growth, stress acclimation and immunity. Recent research at the University of Helsinki has shown that oxygen triggers wound healing in plants. Yet, despite its importance, scientists still lack an understanding of how oxygen levels inside plant tissues are controlled.

In plant cells, oxygen dynamics are dominated by two organelles: mitochondria that consume oxygen during respiration, and chloroplasts that produce oxygen as a by-product of photosynthesis.