Elucidating the relevance of high temperature and elevated CO2 in plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) production

Abhishek Jamloki; Malini Bhattacharyya; M C Nautiyal; Babita Patni

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07709

Elucidating the relevance of high temperature and elevated CO₂ in plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) production

Heliyon. 2021 Aug 8;7(8):e07709. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e07709. eCollection 2021 Aug.

Authors

Abhishek Jamloki¹, Malini Bhattacharyya¹, M C Nautiyal¹, Babita Patni¹

Affiliation

¹ High Altitude Plant Physiology Research Centre (HAPPRC), H.N.B. Garhwal University, Post Box: 14, Srinagar Garhwal, 246174, Uttarakhand, India.

Abstract

Plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) are plant products that are discontinuously distributed throughout the plant kingdom. These secondary compounds have various chemical groups and are named according to their chemical constituents. For their ability to defend biotic and abiotic stresses they are considered as plants' defensive compounds. These metabolites take part in plant protection from insects, herbivores, and extreme environmental conditions. They are indirectly involved in plants' growth and development. Secondary metabolites are also used by people in the form of medicines, pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, colors, fragrances, flavorings, food additives, biopesticides, and drugs development. However, the increase in atmospheric temperature by several anthropogenic activities majorly by the combustion of hydrocarbons is a great issue now. On the other hand, climate change leaves an impact on the quality and quantity of plant secondary metabolites. It is measured that several greenhouse gases (GHGs) are present in the atmosphere, like Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), nitrous oxides (NO_x), Carbon dioxide (CO₂), Methane (CH₄) and Ozone (O₃), etc. CO₂, the major greenhouse gas is essential for photosynthesis. On the other hand, CO₂ plays a significant role in the up-regulation of atmospheric temperature. Plants produce various types of primary metabolites such as carbohydrates, proteins, fats, membrane lipids, nucleic acids, and chlorophyll as well as a variety of secondary metabolites from photosynthesis. The high temperature in the atmosphere creates heat stress for plants. As a matter of fact many morphological, physiological and biochemical changes occur in the plant. The high temperature invariably elicits the production of several secondary metabolites within plants. Various strategies have been universally documented to improve the production of PSMs. With this objective, the focus of the current review is to further investigate and discuss futuristic scenarios the effect of elevated CO₂ and high temperature on PSMs production which may perhaps beneficial for pharmaceutical industries, biotechnology industries, and also in climate change researches.

Keywords: Climate change; Elicitation; Greenhouse gases; Heat stress; Photosynthesis; Secondary metabolites.

Publication types

Review