PRODUCTION OF PHYTOALEXINS BY PLANT-TISSUE CULTURES

The rapid and transient de novo accumulation of phytoalexins in plant cultures in response to microbial infection or treatment with elicitors provides a useful model system for the study of secondary product formation and turnover. The biochemical and molecular investigation of these events is providing many valuable insights into the overall regulation of secondary product formation in plants. The potential biotechnological value of this information, which is only available through fundamental research, is self-evident and argues strongly for continued investment in these disciplines.