Use of secondary metabolite variation in crop improvement

Abstract

Plants contain significant levels of natural genetic and phenotypic variation between individuals within a species for traits ranging from development to metabolism to pathogen resistance. This intra-specific variation is a foundation for research by evolutionary and ecological biologists interested in understanding plant fitness as well as by plant biologists focused on increasing the fitness or yield of agricultural plants. An important component of intra-specific variation for both research groups is the secondary metabolite complement present within a plant. Variation in these compounds controls important ecological and agronomic traits such as resistance to insect herbivores and benefit to human health. This intraspecific variation means that secondary metabolite diversity can be an important tool in crop improvement. This chapter will focus on sources of intra-specific variation in plant secondary metabolites and the potential use of this natural variation in crop improvement and potential pleiotropic consequences of this natural variation.