Senescence is the natural, genetically regulated process of ageing in plant cells, tissues, organs, or entire plants. During senescence, the plant breaks down chlorophyll, proteins, and other cellular components, recycling many of their nutrients to support new growth, flowering, fruit development, or seed production.
Leaf senescence is the most familiar example, causing older leaves to yellow and eventually die. Senescence can also occur after flowering, as in monocarpic plants, or seasonally in deciduous trees that shed their leaves each autumn. It is a normal stage of a plant’s life cycle and differs from damage caused by pests, diseases, nutrient deficiencies, or environmental stress, although those factors can trigger premature senescence.
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