ABSTRACT
Plant growth and development require the coordination of a multitude of chemical reactions within organelles, cells, tissues, and organs. Metabolic coordination involves intricate control of the interactions among a multitude of biochemical reactions. In this chapter, the authors explore the extent and implications of environmental limitations on the function of the antioxidant system. They address the necessity of the chloroplast antioxidant system, demonstrate the environmental dependence of the antioxidant system, propose mechanisms accounting for observed plant response limitations, and propose methods for improving plant performance within certain environmental constraints. Plant cells contain high (mM) concentrations of reduced glutathione that can protect enzyme thiol groups from oxidation. The authors discuss some of the characteristics of the relationship between the plant and its thermal environment.
