Nitric oxide from a “green” perspective

• Nitric oxide (NO) is generated in plant cells by different enzymatic sources.
• NO acts as a signal molecule in plant growth and development.
• NO participates in the interactions among plants and beneficial microorganisms.
• NO has biotechnological application in agriculture protection and human nutrition.

The molecule nitric oxide (NO) which is involved in practically all biochemical and physiological plant processes has become a subject for plant research. However, there remain many unanswered questions concerning how, where and when this molecule is enzymatically generated in higher plants. This mini-review aims to provide an overview of NO in plants for those readers unfamiliar with this field of research. The review will therefore discuss the importance of NO in higher plants at the physiological and biochemical levels, its involvement in designated nitro-oxidative stresses in response to adverse abiotic and biotic environmental conditions, NO emission/uptake from plants, beneficial plant–microbial interactions, and its potential application in the biotechnological fields of agriculture and food nutrition.