Stress physiology: The functional significance of the accumulation of nitrogen-containing compounds

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Abstract
A number of nitrogen-containing compounds (NCCs) accumulate in plants subjected to environmental stress. Numerous books and review articles dealing with the effects and consequences of environmental stress on plants have been published, and various proposals attempting to assign a biochemical role for specific accumulating NCCs have been advanced. In this review the physiological effects of mineral deficiencies, water and, osmotic (salinity) stress, temperature stress, acid stress, anoxia, pathological stress and exogenously supplied ammonia are investigated. The most frequently accumulating NCCs include the amides (glutamine and asparagine), amino acids (arginine, proline, cit- rulline, ornithine) and the amine, putrescine. The review attempts to provide a plausible, unified hypothesis for the accumulation of NCCs during stress conditions. Based on data in the literature the following hypothesis is advanced: any stress condition causing glucose depletion, and/or reduced growth or impaired plant health will result in NH3—NH4+ accumulation early in the stress period. The detoxification process in which excess free ammonia in the cells is removed results in the accumulation of NCCs. The specific NCCs that accumulate are determined by the plant species affected and the nature of the stress.

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