Plant Secondary Metabolites and Environmental Adaptation

Submission Deadline: 30 April 2027 View: 35 Submit to Special Issue

Guest Editor(s)

Assist. Prof. Olga Tsiftsoglou

Email: olga@tsiftsoglou.gr

Affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

Homepage: https://www.pharm.auth.gr/en/dep_members/tsiftsoglou-olga/

Research Interests: chromatography, analysis of natural products, essential oils, isolation of secondary metabolites

Dr. Stefanakis Michalis

Email: michstefanakis@yahoo.gr

Affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

Homepage:

Research Interests: essential oils, secondary metabolites, chromatography

Summary

This special issue focuses on the important role of plant secondary metabolites in environmental adaptation and stress tolerance. Plant secondary metabolites, including alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds, are essential for plant survival under changing environmental conditions. These bioactive compounds help plants respond to biotic stresses such as pathogens and herbivores, as well as abiotic stresses including drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, and UV radiation.

The issue highlights recent advances in understanding the biosynthesis, regulation, and ecological functions of secondary metabolites in plants. It also explores how environmental factors influence metabolite production and how these compounds contribute to plant resilience and adaptation. In addition, the special issue examines the applications of plant secondary metabolites in agriculture, medicine, biotechnology, and sustainable crop improvement.

By bringing together current research and emerging perspectives, this special issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the relationship between plant secondary metabolism and environmental adaptation, promoting future studies on plant survival strategies and their practical applications.

Suggested themes include (but are not limited to):
· Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Importance of Plant Metabolites
· Secondary Metabolites in Sustainable Agriculture
· Biosynthesis and Regulation of Plant Secondary Metabolites
· Secondary Metabolites in Plant Defense Mechanisms
· Role of Metabolites in Drought and Salinity Tolerance
· Plant Responses to Climate Change and Environmental Stress
· Flavonoids, Phenolics, and Antioxidant Defense Systems
· Secondary Metabolites and Plant–Microbe Interactions
· Ecological Functions of Plant Volatile Compounds
· Metabolomics Approaches in Plant Stress Biology
· Advances in Plant Metabolite Extraction and Characterization

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