Relationship between secondary metabolites in plants and abiotic stress signals

Unique sources for pharmaceuticals, food additives, flavorings and industrially important biochemicals are plant secondary metabolites. Such metabolites often accumulate in plants under stress such as various stimuli or signaling molecules. Secondary metabolites play an essential role in adapting plants to the environment and overcoming stress conditions. Plant growth and secondary metabolite production are changed by environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, light intensity, water supply, minerals and CO2. Environmental conditions that have adverse effects on plant growth and crop productivity include drought, high salinity, and freezing temperatures. Plant cell culture technologies have been useful ways to study and produce plant secondary metabolites in laboratory conditions and plant improvement. In this article, the effect of various abiotic factors including salt, drought, light, heavy metals, etc. on secondary metabolites in plants is investigated. The aim of this article is the effect of abiotic factors on the production of secondary metabolites and some important herbal medicines.

Relationship between secondary metabolites in plants and abiotic stress signals Keywords:

abiotic stress , drought , salinity