Chapter 8 - Environmental Stress and Secondary Metabolites in Plants: An Overview

Abstract

Environmental factors significantly affect plant growth and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites (SMs). Plant growth and productivity is negatively affected by temperature extremes, salinity, and drought stress. Plant SMs are compounds that play an essential part in the interaction of plants with abiotic stresses. In addition, plant growth and development is also largely mediated by the endogenous levels of these SMs. A wide range of SMs are produced from primary metabolites such as amino acids, lipids, and carbohydrates in higher plants. Particular colors, tastes, and odors of plants are associated with SMs. Plant SMs also serve as essential sources of industrially important chemicals, flavors, food additives, and pharmaceuticals. Plants accumulate such compounds in response to different signaling molecules. SM production is influenced by various environmental stresses. Environmental factors determine the synthesis and subsequent accumulation of SM. Alteration in any one factor triggers perturbations in the biosynthesis of plant SMs. In this chapter, we have discussed in detail the influence of environmental factors on the instability of SMs. A complete understanding of the mechanisms mediating biosynthesis, accumulation, and degradation of SMs would help to formulate novel strategies to improve the production of SMs and also to manipulate them for enhancing abiotic stress tolerance in plants.