Dehydration of the cells is a consequence of the presence in the environment of abiotic factors such as drought , high soil salinity and low temperature . In response, the plant takes a number of changes at the physiological and molecular levels. The synthesis of various types of organic compounds known as compatible substances that reducing the potential for water to prevent it from flowing out of the cell , and also serve a protective function for proteins and membranes . These include soluble sugars, some amino acids , organic acids and proteins and the protective osmoprotektanty .