Nitric oxide signaling and abiotic stress tolerance in plants

Abstract Abiotic stress is one of the main threats affecting crop growth and production. Nitric oxide (NO) and its cognates such as reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are important, dose-dependent, active signaling molecules that control a wide range of integral biological processes including plant response to various abiotic stress conditions. The participation of NO and RNS confers plant tolerance against abiotic stress has emerged as a new avenue to improve crop productivity further. In this chapter, we bring in current knowledge across the involvement of NO and RNS leading to plant responses to abiotic stress, with a particular focus on examples where their functions have been well characterized at the molecular level.