Biochemistry of Secondary Metabolism in Plants

Abstract

Through secondary or specialised metabolites plants adapt to their environment. A myriad of different compounds plays a significant role in the plant–environment interaction. These compounds help plants in attracting pollinators or deterring herbivores, in their protection from pathogen microorganisms, or in protection from various abiotic stresses. The vast diversity of these compounds is based not only on the ability to rapidly evolve biochemical pathways but also on differential expression of already existing genes in different tissues, and the substrate-binding plasticity of the existing enzymes. The general diversity of biochemical pathways and their evolution is discussed in this chapter.