Emerging Roles of Osmoprotectants in Response to Multiple Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Plants
Udit Nandan Mishra, Debanjana Saha, Jyoti Chauhan, Vivek Kumar, Hanuman Singh Jatav, Dalpat Lal, Asha Kumari, Rajesh Kumar Singhal, Kailash Chandra
Abstract
Field crops are subjected to multiple abiotic stresses such as drought, flood, heat, cold salinity, and extreme climatic situations have adapted 180many strategies, including osmoprotectants to cope with these stresses. Osmoprotectants are a common defense mechanism in which plants activate the production and accumulation of highly soluble, non-toxic, and low molecular weight (LMW) compatible solutes or small organic compounds such as amino acids (proline), amines, sugars, and alcohols under unfavorable situations. These compounds have the potential to mitigate unfavorable conditions by maintaining cell turgor pressure, redox equilibrium, reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS), and many other protective roles during abiotic stresses. The application of molecular biology and transgenic approaches helps in further understanding the emerging role and functions of osmoprotectants. In this consequence, osmoprotectants have a crucial role in improving photosynthesis, and antioxidant defense by improving defense enzymes such as SOD, and catalase (CAT), protecting cellular organs by denaturation of proteins, and many other novel functions in the regulation of growth and development. Likewise, the osmoprotectants have an important role in the mitigation of multiple abiotic stresses by improving stress proteins, water movement, osmoprotectants biosynthesis genes, and regulating plant growth and development optimistically. By taking attention to before mentioned points, this chapter specifically focuses on the new emerging role and functions of osmoprotectants and their broad mechanisms under multiple abiotic stress conditions.