Roles of Nitric Oxide in Conferring Multiple Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Plants and Crosstalk with Other Plant Growth Regulators

Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) is a free-radical gasotransmitter signaling molecule associated with a varied spectrum of signal transduction pathways linked to inducing cross-adaptation against abiotic stresses. It has crucial roles from seed germination to plant maturity, depending upon its cellular concentration. The functional cross-talk of NO among different stress signaling cascades leads to alteration in the expression of developmental genes that regulate biosynthesis and function of plant growth regulators (PGRs). NO-PGRs and secondary signaling compounds cross-talk trigger reprogramming of stress-responsive gene expressions, transcriptional gene modulations, redox regulating machinery, oxidative metabolisms, and multiple regulatory pathways under plant abiotic stress. Recent findings suggest NO as critical components of numerous plant signaling network that interplays with auxin, gibberellins (GA), abscisic acid (ABA), ethylene (ET), jasmonic acid (JA), brassinosteroids (BRs), H 2 O 2 , melatonin, hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), salicylic acid (SA), and other PGRs to modulate growth and development under multiple stresses. Considering the importance of NO signaling crosstalk under stress adaptation, in this review, we point out the biosynthesis and metabolism of NO and its crosstalk with numerous other signaling compounds. Further, recent cellular and molecular advances in NO signaling cross-talk under abiotic stress adaptations also have been discussed.

Modulation by S-nitrosoglutathione (a natural nitric oxide donor) of photosystem in Pisum sativum leaves, as revealed by chlorophyll fluorescence: Light-dependent aggravation of nitric oxide effects

“…Abiotic stress affects photosynthesis in higher plants by targeting the photosynthetic apparatus, particularly photosystem (PS) II (1,2). A common consequence of abiotic/biotic stress is the increase in both reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in plant cells (3,4). ROS and NO could exert multiple effects on photosynthetic and mitochondrial metabolisms (5,6).…”

Supplementation of nitric oxide and spermidine alleviates the nickel stress-induced damage to growth, chlorophyll metabolism, and photosynthesis by upregulating ascorbate–glutathione and glyoxalase cycle functioning in tomato

“…NO-derived molecules, also known as reactive nitrogen species (RNS), play key roles in maintaining the intracellular redox homeostasis and signaling for the activation of antioxidant mechanisms. It has been reported that the application of NO in plants under stressful conditions helps protect the growth, photosynthesis, and enzyme activity by upregulating the tolerance mechanisms ( Fatma et al., 2016 ; Nabi et al., 2019 ; Singhal et al., 2021 ). Recently, in Hordeum vulgare L., the application of NO has been reported to alleviate the damaging effects of copper on plant growth and photosynthesis by upregulating the antioxidant function and maintaining the redox homeostasis ( Massoud et al., 2022 ).…”

Plant Responses to Biotic Stress: Old Memories Matter

“…The promptness of the response depends on the number of neurons connecting the stimuli. In plants, the repertoire of secondary messengers, i.e., ROS, Ca 2+ , NO, SA, JA and pipecolic acid, plays a crucial role in memory response [ 83 , 84 , 85 , 86 ]. Short-term memory is not always associated with transcriptional reprogramming in both plants and animals.…”