title: Why we should stop inferring simple correlations between antioxidants and plant stress resistance: towards the antioxidomic era.
abstract: A large number of studies have investigated the relationship between different forms of abiotic stress and antioxidants. However, misconceptions and technical flaws often affect studies on this important topic. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated under stress conditions should not be considered just as potential threats, because they are essential components of the signaling mechanism inducing plant defenses. Similarly, the complexity of the antioxidant system should be considered, to avoid misleading oversimplifications. Recent literature is discussed, highlighting the importance of accurate experimental setups for obtaining reliable results in this delicate field of research. A tentative "troubleshooting guide" is provided to help researchers interested in improving the quality of their work on the role of antioxidants in plant stress resistance. Significant advancements in the field could be reached with the development of antioxidomics, defined here as a new branch of research at the crossroads of other disciplines including metabolomics and proteomics, studying the complex relationship among antioxidants and their functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Applied Plant Sciences and Plant Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences, Institute of Horticulture, Fruit-Growing and Viticulture, Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: F Vanessa
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Loiacono
authors.forename: Mario C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: De Tullio
mesh_terms: D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species