Nitrogen containing compounds and adaptation of plants to salinity stress

Abstract

A number of nitrogen containing compounds (NCC) accumulate in plants exposed to salinity stress. The most frequently accumulating NCC include amino acids, amids, imino acids, proteins, quarternary ammonium compounds (QAC) and polyamines. The specific NCC that accumulate in saline environment vary with the plant species. Osmotic adjustment, protection of cellular macromolecules, storage form of nitrogen, maintaining cellular pH, detoxification of the cells, and scavenging of free radicals are proposed functions for these compounds under stress conditions. NCC accumulation is usually correlated with plant salt tolerance, even though this correlation is based on untested hypotheses.