Temperature-Linked Constraints and Plant Protection Responses

Extreme (high or low) temperatures in environment exert stresses against plants leading to disturbances of (i) fluidity or rigidity states of cell membranes, (ii) water balance changes, (iii) osmotic flux variation and (iv) oxidative process induction. Plants react to thermic stresses by defensive phytochemical strategies aiming protection of cell membrane integrity, tissue cooling and water loss limitation. These protective processes involve biosynthesis of anti-oxidant (e.g. phenolic compounds), regulations of ratios between unsaturated and saturated fatty acids, emissions of volatile compounds (e.g. monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes) and accumulation of osmoregulators (e.g. anthocyanins). Different plant taxa react by different phytochemical trends to different thermic (heat, cold) stresses.