Programmed cell death is a component of development and defence
mechanisms in plants.
PCD is used to describe the process of apoptosis and
autophagy.(Apoptosis and autophagy is a form of programmed cell
death).
In plants,PCD is widely used to describe most instances of
death observed. PCD in plants distinguish between different forms
of cell death.
An important function of PCD is the elimination of damaged
cells, especially those that cells have undergone changes in their
DNA. These are dangerous as they can accumulate mutations and
become carcinogenic.
An indicator of PCD is that, conversion of DNA fragmentation
into oligonucleosomal unit.