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A plant requires favorable conditions for their growth. When minerals, temperature, light, pH, and water are present in their optimum concentration, plant grows well, but any change in their level affects the growth of the plant. A situation that does not promote plant growth is called stress. For optimum growth of plants in stress conditions, the plant accumulates compatible solutes, an organic compound that is nontoxic and nonreactive and manages osmotic pressure in plants. Plants synthesize different types of compatible solutes in different kinds of biotic as well as abiotic stress. Compatible solutes also scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS), and in this way, it could protect plants from oxidative stress. In this chapter, we review different types of compatible solutes and their impact on stress conditions. We also summarize the role of compatible solutes in plant growth promotion.

Agriculture is not only a livelihood source but also fulfils the nutritional requirement of humans. To feed the world population increasing at an alarming rate, crop production must be increased. However, crop production is adversely affected by various abiotic factors or changes in climatic conditions worldwide. Climate exhibits a direct impact on the yield of the crop. In stress condition, the physiological state of plants gets altered that ultimately affects the overall growth of plants. Plants exhibit different mechanisms to survive these stress conditions. Plants synthesize and accumulated non-toxic, non-reactive organic compounds to counter the unfavourable conditions, and these compounds are known as compatible solutes. Compatible solutes exhibit beneficial characteristics by which plants could survive in hostile environments. Hereby, we discussed the role of few important compatible compounds and their role in plant growth as well as in different stress conditions. We have also summarized the effect of inducible changes in the compatible solutes on plant growth under different climatic conditions.