Regulation and Biosynthesis of Secondary Metabolites in Ornamental Plants

Dear Colleagues,

The dazzling flowers and pleasant aroma of ornamental plants make them attractive to customers, with the most aesthetic value among groups of plants. These traits formed during the evolutionary process not to please humans, but due to their reproductive and developmental benefits. Their economic and ecological traits are determined by the secondary metabolism, a series of natural compounds with relatively small molecular weight. In recent decades, knowledge about the identification of secondary metabolites from ornamental plants has increased.

The secondary metabolites produced by oramental plants not only impact their quality, but also determine their reproductive and survival strategies. Flower pigment and scent play critical roles as visual and olfactory cues that attract pollinators. An array of these compounds serves as “chemical defenses” against pathogenic fungi and bacteria and herbivorous insects. The chemical diversity of secondary metabolites is due to the diversified functions of biosynthetic enzymes. The elucidation of their biosynthetic pathways and regulation network is a central subject in studies on secondary metabolism.

For this Special Issue, we are seeking both original research articles and reviews on the secondary metabolites of ornamental plants in terms of multi-omics. A wide range of topics, including the composition, regulation, biosynthesis and ecological function of flavonoid, anthocyanin, carotenoid, volatile organic compounds, and other biologically/ pharmacologically active compounds are welcome.

Dr. Yifan Jiang
Prof. Dr. Fei Chen
Dr. Yueqing Li
Guest Editors

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