Mitochondria-targeted quinones suppress the generation of reactive oxygen species, programmed cell death and senescence in plants.

This work focuses on the effect of mitochondria-targeted quinones (SkQs) on plants. SkQs with antioxidant properties are accumulated in the mitochondria of pea cells and suppress the generation of reactive oxygen species. At nanomolar concentrations, SkQs prevented the death of pea leaf epidermal or guard cells caused by chitosan, bacterial lipopolysaccharide or KCN. The protective effect of SkQs was removed by a protonophoric uncoupler. SkQs at micromolar concentrations inhibited the O2 evolution by illuminated chloroplasts and stimulated the respiration of mitochondria. SkQs slowed down the senescence and the death of Arabidopsis thaliana leaves and improved the wheat crop structure.