Strategies for Enhancing the Production of Secondary Metabolites in Plants

Dear Colleagues,

Plant secondary metabolites are small molecules produced by plants and are crucial in processes associated with plant fitness, such as adaptation to changing environments and abiotic stresses, and the defense against pathogens, herbivores, and neighboring plants. These molecules are typically classified into three types depending on their structure and metabolic biosynthetic pathway: phenolic compounds, terpenoids, and nitrogen-containing compounds, such as alkaloids and glucosinolates. In recent decades, interest in secondary metabolites has been increasing due to their applications in different industrial sectors such as pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, food additives, drugs, fragrances, and biopesticides. The market demand for such bioactive compounds is growing rapidly. This has generated a significant increase in the understanding of the regulation of plant secondary metabolism and, particularly, in the development of effective strategies for improving the production of these bioactive compounds by plants. These include, but are not limited to, traditional and molecular breeding technologies, and the most recent metabolic engineering approaches, including synthetic biology. Elicitation is another important strategy based on the application to plants of physical factors or certain chemical compounds that induce physiological changes and stimulate defense or stress-induced responses in plants, including the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites.

In this context, the purpose of this Special Issue is to collect the most advanced research regarding the manipulation of the biosynthesis and accumulation of secondary metabolites in plants. The information provided here will be useful for the development of effective tools that will help in better meeting the market needs for bioactive-based products and in increasing the role of these metabolites in plant growth and defense. 

Dr. Daniela Trono
Guest Editor

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• secondary metabolites
• elicitation
• stress response
• plant-growth-promoting bacteria
• arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
• molecular breeding
• metabolic engineering