Nitric oxide imbalance provokes a nitrosative response in plants under abiotic stress

Nitric oxide (NO), a free radical generated in plantcells, belongs to a family of related molecules designated as reactive nitrogen species (RNS). When an imbalance of RNS takes place for any adverse environmental circumstances, some of these molecules can cause direct or indirect damage at the cellular or molecular level, promoting a phenomenon of nitrosative stress. Thus, this review will emphasize the recent progress in understanding the function of NO and its production under adverse environmental conditions. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.