ABSTRACT
Eukaryotic cells are differentiated from prokaryotes by membrane-bound organelles which perform specific cellular functions. In eukaryotes, mitochondria perform respiration that is essential for adenosine triphosphate (ATP) generation, required for growth, development, and cellular maintenance. Respiration in the presence of oxygen (aerobic respiration) results in the generation of energy-rich molecules, driven by break down of respiratory substrates. Besides, the mitochondrial processes in plants are also required in carbon and nitrogen metabolism. They have a role in photosynthesis and regulation of abiotic stress. Understanding the machinery, organization, and parameter of respiratory routes is essential to know about plant growth. Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species are formed under stress conditions which can lead to oxidative damage affecting quantity and quality of plant products. The cellular organelles work in tandem with the help of network of scavenging systems that help in quenching the reactive species. The effect of stress on mitochondria can impair the ATP supply of the cell and lead to oxidative injury leading to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which when exceeding the capacity of cellular antioxidants leads to damage. Understanding the control and regulation of the respiratory processes is vital to explain plant growth and its variability in different environmental conditions. In this chapter, we aim to explain the regulation of mitochondrial respiration during environmental stress.
