Comparative bio-accumulation of osmoprotectants in saline stress tolerating plants: A review

Abstract

Osmoprotectants are a diverse group of low molecular weight organic solutes that can help in balancing the osmotic potential in plants surviving under salinity stress. These osmoprotectants are accumulated in cytoplasmic vacuoles to enable salinity stress tolerance in plants. Recent advances in plant abiotic stress research have focused on osmoprotectants as a promising area for progress. Extensive research endeavors have been dedicated to deciphering the intricate mechanisms underlying abiotic stress management in saline plants. Scientists have delved into diverse pathways, investigating the physiological intricacies as well as the genomic makeup of these resilient plants. However, the complex nature of saline plants poses formidable obstacles to conducting genomic and transcriptomic studies. Nevertheless, amidst these challenges, one area of research has emerged as a captivating focal point: the exploration of osmoprotectants. An investigation on osmoprotectants holds tremendous potential in unraveling how saline plants effectively navigate and counteract stress, allowing them to thrive in demanding environments. Salinity stress alters protein structure in saline plants, resulting in post-transcriptional modifications that produce various types of osmoprotectants, which get synthesized and accumulated in varying amounts in different plant species. Individual studies on groups of plants that can withstand salinity stress, such as halophytes, mangroves, and marine algae, have been conducted, but a more comprehensive comparative understanding of saline plants can be developed through the collection and analysis of this data. This article aims to explore the diversity of osmoprotectants accumulation, influencing factors, and structural and metabolic origin in saline plants.