Ecology Plant Secondary Metabolites From Genes to Global Processes 9780521193269

The Ecology of Plant Secondary MetabolitesFrom Genes to Global Processes\nAuthor(s): Glenn R. Iason, Marcel Dicke, Susan E. Hartley\nFormat: Hardback\nPublisher: Cambridge University Press, United Kingdom\nImprint: Cambridge University Press\nISBN-13: 9780521193269, 978-0521193269\nSynopsis\nPlant secondary metabolites (PSMs) such as terpenes and phenolic compounds are known to have numerous ecological roles, notably in defence against herbivores, pathogens and abiotic stresses and in interactions with competitors and mutualists. This book reviews recent developments in the field to provide a synthesis of the function, ecology and evolution of PSMs, revealing our increased awareness of their integrative role in connecting natural systems. It emphasises the multiple roles of secondary metabolites in mediating the interactions between organisms and their environment at a range of scales of ecological organisation, demonstrating how genes encoding for PSM biosynthetic enzymes can have e.