Nitric oxide in plants under abiotic stress: involvement in signaling networks

Background. Nitric oxide (NO) is recognized as one of the most vital signaling molecules in plants, involved in the control of most physiological processes under normal and, especially, stress conditions. Objective­. This review provides data on the primary and recently discovered minor pathways of nitric oxi­de synthesis in plants, NO-induced protein post-translational modifications, NO involvement in a general signa­ling network, interaction with individual nucleotides, stress-protective action of different NO donors and meta­bolic precursors of nitric oxide, along with the potential applications of these compounds in phytobiotechnologies. Conclusions. Despite numerous unresolved questions regarding nitric oxide synthesis and signa­ling in plants, current evidence highlights its central role in plant adaptation and stress responses, as well as the considerable potential of NO donors and related compounds for phytobiotechnological applications. Keywords: calcium, hydrogen sulfide, nitric oxide, plant adaptation, post-translational modification of proteins, reactive oxygen species, signaling