The plant cell internal environment is a dynamic, intricate landscape composed of many intracellular compartments. Cells organize some cellular components through formation of biomolecular condensates—non-stoichiometric assemblies of protein and/or nucleic acids. In many cases, phase separation appears to either underly or contribute to the formation of biomolecular condensates. Many canonical membraneless compartments within animal cells form in a manner that is at least consistent with phase separation, including nucleoli, stress granules, Cajal bodies, and numerous additional bodies, regulated by developmental and environmental stimuli. In this Review, we examine the emerging roles for phase separation in plants. Further, drawing on studies carried out in other organisms, we identify cellular phenomenon in plants that might also arise via phase separation. We propose that plants make use of phase separation to a much greater extent than has been previously appreciated, implicating phase separation as an evolutionarily ancient mechanism for cellular organization.

植物细胞内部环境是一个动态的、复杂的景观，由许多细胞内区室组成。细胞通过形成生物分子凝聚物（蛋白质和/或核酸的非化学计量组装体）来组织一些细胞成分。在许多情况下，相分离似乎是生物分子缩合物形成的基础或促成因素。动物细胞内许多典型的无膜区室以至少与相分离一致的方式形成，包括核仁、应激颗粒、卡哈尔小体和许多其他小体，受发育和环境刺激的调节。在这篇综述中，我们研究了相分离在植物中的新兴作用。此外，根据在其他生物体中进行的研究，我们确定了植物中也可能通过相分离出现的细胞现象。我们认为植物对相分离的利用程度比以前认识的要大得多，这表明相分离是一种进化上古老的细胞组织机制。