Chapter 10 - Bioactive Molecules as Regulatory Signals in Plant Responses to Abiotic Stresses

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Abstract The primary and secondary metabolism of plants along with the signaling pathways represent the plant’s task force to survive under stressful conditions. Biotic and abiotic stresses in sensitive plants reduce the growth and can compromise the reproduction cycle, leading to the disappearance form the stressful areas. On the other hand, plants that can accumulate a wide range of bioactive molecules can increase their tolerance to cope with the adverse environmental conditions. These bioactive compounds include carotenoids, phenolics, and vitamins. These substances act as direct or indirect activation of different biosynthetic pathways. Many of them are involved in the signaling network of stress tolerance protection mechanisms. Ascorbic acid, carotenoids, and flavonoids are important antioxidants that can scavenge the reactive oxygen species, which can impair the cell functionality. The plants that belong to the brassicaeae family accumulate complex antioxidant molecules called glucosinolates. These molecules along with their degradation products have great importance in environmental adaptation. New potential signaling molecules such as melatonin have been gaining importance in the regulation of several stress responses in plants, including senescence and reactive oxygen species accumulation. It has been reported that degradation products coming from raw materials can contain peptides, oligosaccharides, and mineral nutrients that alone or in combination can modulate plant physiology and biochemistry for survival purposes.