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The Hidden Power of Secondary Metabolites in Plant-Fungi Interactions and Sustainable Phytoremediation

Summary

This research explores how tiny chemical compounds produced by fungi and plants play crucial roles in agriculture and environmental protection. These compounds, called secondary metabolites, help plants fight diseases, grow better, and clean up contaminated soils. Understanding these natural processes could lead to more sustainable farming practices and reduced chemical pesticide use. Impacts on everyday life: – More sustainable and environmentally friendly farming methods – Reduced need for chemical pesticides in agriculture – Natural solutions for cleaning up contaminated soil – Improved crop yields and food security – Development of new natural medicines and industrial products

Background

The global environment contains various small exotic substances known as secondary metabolites produced by plants and microorganisms. Plants and fungi are particularly rich sources of these molecules, whose physiological functions often remain mysterious. These metabolites play crucial roles in biological control of plant diseases and can promote plant development and disease resistance through various mechanisms.

Objective

This review aims to discuss fungal-plant secondary metabolites with antifungal properties and examine the role of signaling molecules in induced and acquired systemic resistance activities. Additionally, it explores how fungal secondary metabolites mimic plant promotion molecules and presents new trends in phytoremediation applications using fungal secondary metabolites to achieve sustainable food production and microbial diversity in an eco-friendly environment.

Results

The review found that fungal secondary metabolites fall into four main family groups: terpenoids, polyketides, non-ribosomal peptides, or combinations thereof. These compounds exhibit diverse functions in biological control, plant growth promotion, and environmental remediation. Specific findings include the role of these metabolites in activating host systemic defenses, promoting root and shoot development, and facilitating sustainable phytoremediation practices.

Conclusion

Secondary metabolites play a vital role in plant health by regulating anti-pathogenic mechanisms in host plants. Understanding the pathways of secondary metabolites and their role in biological control strategies is essential for improving crop yield and providing novel future green agriculture opportunities. Knowledge of genomic clustering and regulation of secondary metabolite genes will yield new insights into the evolution of fungal pathogenesis and host defense.
  • Published in:Frontiers in Plant Science,
  • Study Type:Review,
  • Source: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1044896
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