Plant Secondary Metabolite Production During Biotic Stress
ABSTRACT
Plants produce a wide range of secondary metabolites as part of their adaptive response to biotic stresses such as pathogens, herbivores, and parasites. These compounds, which include alkaloids, phenolics, terpenoids, and flavonoids, serve important roles in defense by repelling invaders, limiting microbial development, and attracting helpful species. Secondary metabolite production is closely controlled and often triggered by hormone-mediated signaling pathways such as jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, and ethylene. Understanding the molecular and physiological processes that drive their synthesis gives insights into plant resilience and the possibility of generating stress-resistant crops using metabolic engineering and biotechnological techniques.
KEYWORDS: Secondary metabolites, Plant, Bacteria, Virus, Fungus, Stress, Hormone
