Production of Plant Secondary Metabolites: Examples, Tips and Suggestions for Biotechnologists.

ABSTRACT: Plants are sessile organisms and, in order to defend themselves against exogenous (a)biotic constraints, they synthesize an array of secondary metabolites which have important physiological and ecological effects. Plant secondary metabolites can be classified into four major classes: terpenoids, phenolic compounds, alkaloids and sulphur-containing compounds. These phytochemicals can be antimicrobial, act as attractants/repellents, or as deterrents against herbivores. The synthesis of such a rich variety of phytochemicals is also observed in undifferentiated plant cells under laboratory conditions and can be further induced with elicitors or by feeding precursors. In this review, we discuss the recent literature on the production of representatives of three plant secondary metabolite classe

SUBMITTER: Guerriero G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6027220 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature