Why secondary metabolites are produced by plants?

Why secondary metabolites are produced by plants?

Plants synthesize a huge variety of secondary metabolites, with complex chemical composition, which are produced in response to different forms of (a) biotic stresses, as well as to fulfil important physiological tasks, like attracting pollinators, establishing symbiosis, providing structural components to lignified …

What are secondary compounds and how are they an advantage to plants?

Secondary products are small molecular weight compounds produced by secondary metabolic pathways in plants. They are regarded as non-essential for normal growth and development but often confer benefits such as defense against pathogens, pests and herbivores or the attraction of pollinators.

What is the function of secondary metabolites in plants?

Important roles of secondary metabolites include (i) protection against harmful environmental conditions, (ii) protection against pathogens and herbivores, (iii) feeding deterrence and (iv) attraction of pollinators and seed dispersers.

Why do plants produce primary plant metabolites?

A plant produces primary metabolites that are involved in growth and metabolism. Conversely, a secondary metabolite is not directly involved in those processes, but usually has an important ecological function (i.e. a relational function).

What is the importance of secondary metabolites?

Secondary metabolites serve: (i) as competitive weapons used against other bacteria, fungi, amoebae, plants, insects, and large animals; (ii) as metal transporting agents; (iii) as agents of symbiosis between microbes and plants, nematodes, insects, and higher animals; (iv) as sexual hormones; and (v) as …

What are the benefits of secondary metabolites in plants humans?

Plants produce secondary metabolites to aid in self-defense. Secondary metabolites support plant survival and species propagation because they act as physical defenses against predators. For example, lactucin in chicory leaves is toxic to slugs.

What are the importance of secondary metabolites?

Why are secondary metabolites important?

Secondary metabolites often play an important role in plant defense against herbivory and other interspecies defenses. Secondary metabolites commonly mediate antagonistic interactions, such as competition and predation, as well as mutualistic ones such as pollination and resource mutualisms.

What is the main purpose of producing secondary metabolites?

Secondary metabolites are compounds that are not required for the growth or reproduction of an organism but are produced to confer a selective advantage to the organism. For example, they may inhibit the growth of organisms with which they compete and, as such, they often inhibit biologically important processes.

Do Some secondary metabolites have ecological importance?

Secondary metabolites are not directly involved in the growth, development, or reproduction of the producing bacteria, yet they may play important ecological roles in the interactions with other organisms.

What are the ecological importance of secondary metabolites?

Secondary metabolites, at least the major ones present in a plant, apparently function as defence (against herbivores, microbes, viruses or competing plants) and signal compounds (to attract pollinating or seed dispersing animals). They are thus important for the plant’s survival and reproductive fitness.

Why are plants able to synthesize secondary metabolites?

Plant Secondary Metabolites. • The ability to synthesize secondary metabolites has been selected through the course of evolution in different plant lineage when such compounds address specific needs. – Floral scent volatiles and pigments have evolved to attract insect pollinators and thus enhance fertilization.

What are the secondary chemicals found in plants?

Pigments (such as terpenoid carotenes, phenolics, and flavonoids) color flowers and, together with terpene and phenolic odors, attract pollinators. Secondary chemicals are important in plant use by humans.

What are secondary metabolites of drugs used for?

Most pharmaceuticals are based on plant chemical structures, and secondary metabolites are widely used for recreation and stimulation (the alkaloids nicotine and cocaine; the terpene cannabinol). The study of such plant use is called ethnopharmacology.

Are there any compounds that are not involved in photosynthesis?

Many plants, fungi and microbes of certain genera and families synthesize a number of organic compounds which are not involved in primary metabolism (pho­tosynthesis, respiration, and protein and lipid metabolism) and seem to have no direct function in growth and development of plants.