The involvement of different secondary metabolites in salinity tolerance of crops

Abstract

Salt stress decreased plant growth and development; affects carbon metabolism, ion toxicity, nutritional status, and oxidative metabolism; and modu- lates the levels of secondary metabolites which are important physiological param- eters in salt stress tolerance. Recent progress has been made in the identification and characterization of the mechanisms that allow plants to tolerate high salt concentra- tions and drought stress. Accumulation of secondary metabolites often occurs in plants subjected to stresses including various elicitors or signal molecules. The focus of the present chapter is the influence of salt stress on secondary metabolite production and some of important plant pharmaceuticals. Enhanced synthesis in the cytosol of determined secondary metabolites (anthocyanins, flavones, phenolics, and specific phenolic acids) under stress condition may protect cells from ion-induced oxidative damage by binding the ions and thereby showing reduced toxicity on cytoplasmic structures. The aim of this study was to determine the physiological implication of secondary metabolites in salt-tolerant crops.