Phenological Regulation of Secondary Metabolism

Dear Colleagues,

Plant phenology broadly refers to the timing of seasonal events in the plant life cycle, such as germination, flowering, and fruiting. Plants produce secondary metabolites, also known as specialized metabolites, which enable them to interact with their environment. The production of these secondary metabolites can vary significantly in both quality and quantity due to factors such as genetic variability, ecological functions, physiological conditions, seasonal changes, habitat environmental variables, and phenological stages.

Numerous studies have investigated how these factors influence the production of secondary metabolites. Typically suggested explanations for these variations often involve hypotheses of optimal defense in response to natural enemies and the costs associated with resource allocation for biosynthesis.

However, fluctuations in secondary metabolite levels during certain phenophases may indicate a redistribution of these metabolites among different tissues. For example, metabolites from senescent leaves might be redirected to the roots or flowers. Additionally, this variation may result from the exchange of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and sulfur (S) atoms between primary and secondary molecules rather than solely as a response to herbivory pressure. Moreover, metabolites serve various functions beyond defense, such as responding to water stress, facilitating communication with beneficial microbiota, and fostering mutualistic interactions.

Therefore, understanding the variations in secondary metabolites during different phenological stages could provide insights into intrinsic patterns and how plants respond to biotic and abiotic pressures. However, current knowledge on this topic is limited, with the existing literature mainly focusing on specific components or species.

This Special Issue welcomes studies examining the impact of phenology on variations in secondary metabolites.

Dr. Iván De-la-Cruz-Chacón
Dr. Alma Rosa González-Esquinca
Prof. Dr. Xin Fang
Guest Editors

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