GLYCINEBETAINE IS A MAJOR NITROGEN-CONTAINING SOLUTE IN THE MALVACEAE

The zwitterionic quaternary ammonium compound glycinebetaine was detec ted in all but three of over 100 species of various genera in the fami ly Malvaceae. In a more limited range of species, particularly of Goss ypium, glycinebetaine accumulated to concentrations sometimes in exces s of 100 mM water in response to water deficit or salinity stress. Gly cinebetaine concentrations were highest in young tissues and accounted for about 10% of the total nitrogen. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Scie nce Ltd.