ABSTRACT
In many terrestrial ecosystems plants are naturally exposed to adverse environmental factors that have a negative effect on plant survival, development, and productivity. Drought and salinity are considered the most important abiotic factors limiting plant growth and yield in these areas (SánchezDíaz and Aguirreolea, 1993). Drought and salinity share a common osmotic component (by water limitation for plant) as the main factor (although not the only one in the case of salinity) responsible of their negative effects on plant development. Thus, osmotic stress is broadly used to refer to situations where insufficient water availability limits plant growth and development (Zhu et al., 1997).
