Review. After the deluge: Plant revival post-flooding

Crop losses due to flooding are occuring with increasing frequency. Whilst time submerged can be lethal, the post-submergence period is also potentially lethal. In this new review, Yeung et al. provide an overview of factors that contribute to plant survival after flooding. Being submerged leads to hypoxia (oxygen deprivation), which is then followed by re-oxygenation and exposure to light that can contribute to damaging reactive oxygen accumulation. Interestingly, damage to the root system and changes in hydraulic conductivity can lead to dessication damage after flooding. The authors explore mechanisms of flooding tolerance with a focus on rice and Arabidopsis. Tolerance draws on all aspects of plant physiology, from hormone signaling to photosynthesis and metabolism, making this an interesting and thought-provoking article. (Summary by Mary Williams) Trends Plant Sci. 10.1016/j.tplants.2019.02.007