Editorial: Plant secondary metabolites and their effects on environmental adaptation based on functional genomics

Abstract

Secondary metabolites are organic compounds produced by plants that are not directly involved in growth, development, or reproduction, but play important roles in adaptation to the environment (Hu et al., 2018). These compounds have diverse chemical structures and biological functions, such as defense against herbivores and pathogens, the attraction of pollinators, and regulation of growth and development (Moore et al., 2014; Yuan et al., 2022). Understanding the genetic basis of secondary metabolite biosynthesis and their ecological functions is crucial for developing sustainable agriculture and protecting natural ecosystems (AbdAlla et al., 2023). For example, how do plants regulate secondary metabolite synthesis and how do plant secondary metabolites (PSM) influence environmental adaptation? In the past, it was generally thought that PSMs were small biological molecules and non-essential for organism survival (Speed et al., 2015; Li et al., 2020; Shi and Du, 2023). However, it is extensively accepted that PSMs play essential roles in environmental adaptation by providing protection against environmental stressors and supporting the growth of symbiotic organisms (Li et al., 2021; Xu et al., 2022; Makhumbila et al., 2023).