Salicylic acid: An efficient elicitor of secondary metabolite production in plants
2021
Ali, Barket
Thousands of structurally and chemically diverse phytochemicals called secondary metabolites are ubiquitously found in the plant kingdom. They are not essential for plant growth and development, yet they act as herbivore repellents and pollinator attractants. This fundamental role is facilitated via modulating the colour and fragrance of the plant/parts. However, they are economically important for humans in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, food additives, and agrochemicals. Therefore, different ways and means have been explored to enhance their production and accumulation in the plants. Salicylic acid (SA) is one of the most important plant phenolics that affects seed germination, stomatal movements, pigment accumulation, photosynthesis, ethylene biosynthesis, heat production, enzyme activities, abscission reversal, nutrient uptake, flower induction, membrane functions, legume nodulation, metabolic activities and overall growth and development of the plants. Due to its hormone-like activity, SA has also been employed to different plant species, both in vivo and in vitro, to explore its role in the secondary metabolite synthesis and accumulation. These studies clearly demonstrate that SA can efficiently recuperate the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in plants. Moreover, plant tissue culture technique per se elicits the secondary metabolites production. Supplementation of SA to the culture medium or short term exposure of the cultures to SA additively boosts the biosynthesis and accumulation of secondary metabolites. All this information is consolidated and presented here in detail to add a new dimension to the role of SA in plants as well as to explore a potent strategy to enhance the production and accumulation of secondary metabolites in plants.
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