Chapter 14 - Role of proline in regulating physiological and molecular aspects of plants under abiotic stress

Abstract

Osmolytes are low molecular weight compounds like amino acids, tertiary sulphonium and quaternary ammonium compounds, sugars, and polyhydric alcohols. They are accumulated in the plant cytoplasm to balance the osmotic potential of the Na+ and Cl− accumulated in the vacuole. The osmolytes accumulation advantages keep the main physiological functions of the cell active, the induction of their anabolism is controlled by environmental cues, and they can be synthesized at all developmental stages. Abiotic stress adversely effects the physiological and biochemical processes of plants, leading to a reduction in plant productivity. Plants try to protect themselves via activation of their internal defense system. Proline, a multifunctional molecule, may be able to protect plants from the adverse effects of drought and salt stresses by enhancing the reactive oxygen species scavenging efficiency. It helps in the protection of photosynthetic apparatus and also membrane integrity. Proline regulates plant processes at a molecular level, which results in providing better resistance against salt stress. This chapter discusses the use of proline in regulating physiological and molecular aspects of plants under abiotic stress. Increasing the osmolyte content in plants is an interesting strategy to improve the growth and yield of crops upon exposure to salinity.