Effects of Salt Stress on Osmolyte Metabolism of Crop Plants and Mitigating Strategy by Osmolyte

Abstract

Among various abiotic stresses, salinity is a major problem in arid and semiarid regions of the world that negatively reduces the crop productivity. Osmotic stress is the major cause of reduction in growth under salt stress and to minimize the osmotic stress, plants either accumulates or enhances the synthesis of osmoprotectants. The enhanced production of osmolytes is the manifestation of osmoprotectant responsive genes, which improves stress tolerance in plants. Most of the crop plants during abiotic stress conditions such as salinity, drought, and high temperature protect themselves through amino acid metabolism as well. Salinity is one of the most brutal environmental stresses that hamper plant growth and productivity worldwide. The biosynthetic pathways of major osmolyte such as proline, glycine betaine, polyamines, or some synthetic sugar molecules are severely affected under salt stress. Salt-induced toxicity is either alleviated by enhanced antioxidant system or by exogenous supplementation of these major osmolytes. © 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. All rights reserved.