secondary-metabolism
Secondary metabolism refers to the biosynthetic pathways plants use to produce specialized small molecules—such as alkaloids, terpenes, and phenolics—that are not essential for basic growth but play critical roles in ecological interactions. These compounds help plants defend against herbivores and pathogens, attract pollinators, and compete with neighboring organisms. Understanding secondary metabolism is central to plant biology research, with implications for crop protection, drug discovery, and the breeding of stress-resistant varieties.
open_in_new WikipediaPubMed · 2026-04-06
Scientists discovered that a small protein derived from a gene's 'antisense' strand can boost root growth and trigger production of rare fragrant compounds in agarwood trees, opening a new path for sustainable agarwood farming.
The antisense-derived peptide anti-AsWOX11 significantly enhanced adventitious root growth in Aquilaria sinensis (agarwood tree) compared to untreated plants.
Treatment induced production of two novel volatile compounds — α-gurjunene and α-cedrene — not previously associated with this pathway, expanding the tree's fragrance profile.
Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses confirmed the peptide modulates hormone signaling networks involved in both root development and secondary metabolite biosynthesis simultaneously.
