Interactions and Regulatory Functions of Phenolics in Soil-Plant-Climate Nexus

Abstract

Phenols are major compounds produced by plant species as a peripheral stimulus or as a regulatory defense mechanism under different environmental biotic stresses. These secondary metabolites are generated from shikimic and acetic acid metabolic pathways. The aromatic benzene ring compound plays an important role in plant development, especially in the defense forefront. They provide structural integrity and support to the plants. Phenolic phytoalexins released by pathogen/arthropod-attacked or wounded plants nullify or repel organisms for the advantage of the host. The allelopathic potential of phenolic compounds is observed in both natural and managed ecosystems. The global impacts of climatic variabilities such as drought, increased carbon dioxide, or greenhouse gas emissions alter the quantitative response of plant phenols. This review primarily discusses the different aspects of phenolic interactions concerning health, antioxidant properties, and insect-plant interaction as a nexus of soil and plant relations in response to variable climatic conditions.

Impact of Resorcinol and Biochar Application on the Growth Attributes, Metabolite Contents, and Antioxidant Systems of Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)

“…Secondary metabolites serve critical roles in plants, including adaptation to the environment, defense mechanisms, metal transport, and symbiotic relationships, acting as hormones, and promoting cellular differentiation. 26,27 Phenolic compounds, with hydroxyl groups on aromatic rings, are crucial secondary metabolites, categorized into four main types as flavonoids, phenolic acids, stilbenes, and lignans. 28,29 Resorcinol, a phenolic chemical (1,3-isomer of benzenediol) with the formula C 6 H 4 (OH) 2 , was utilized in this investigation.…”

“…Key physiological pathways crucial for plant growth, reproduction, and metabolism, including glycolysis, Krebs cycle, and Calvin cycle, are regulated by primary plant metabolites like carbohydrates, amino acids, organic acids, and enzymes. , Conversely, secondary metabolites, including phenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, and terpenoids, assume a substantial role in the plant’s stress response and defense mechanisms , and are not directly associated with plant growth. − Primary metabolites are essential for plant metabolism and are vital for the production of secondary metabolites. , While the absence of primary metabolites may not severely affect plant survival, their presence is crucial for synthesizing secondary metabolites. Secondary metabolites serve critical roles in plants, including adaptation to the environment, defense mechanisms, metal transport, and symbiotic relationships, acting as hormones, and promoting cellular differentiation. , Phenolic compounds, with hydroxyl groups on aromatic rings, are crucial secondary metabolites, categorized into four main types as flavonoids, phenolic acids, stilbenes, and lignans. , …”

Sustainability assessment of lignocellulosic biorefineries based on sequential pretreatments

“…For the TA and HT categories, the impact of phenol has been attributed to its toxicity even at low concentrations. Some studies have shown that small concentrations in water sources or wastewater inhibit soil bacterial metabolism and plant cellular functioning when using phenol‐contaminated irrigation 58 . In contrast, furfural production did not show impacts higher than 3% for all indicators.…”

Contrasting influences of two dominant plants, Dasiphora fruticosa and Ligularia virguarea, on aboveground and belowground communities in an alpine meadow

“…Moreover, Ligularia virgaurea has been shown to release large amounts of volatile allelopathic compounds (Wu et al, 2011;Zhang et al, 2011;Arjmand et al, 2013) and to influence soil fungal community composition (Shi et al, 2011) and host-specific fungal endophytes (Aschehoug et al, 2014). Monoterpenoids are the main allelopathic substances produced by L. virgaurea, accounting for 16.6% of the total volatiles, with other allelopathic compounds including phenolic, terpenoid, alkane and aromatic compounds (Ma et al, 2005), which can also affect soil organisms (Misra et al, 2023). While both L. virgaurea roots and leaves produce allelopathic compounds, and leaf-derived allelopathic substances may enter soil through rainwater leaching, the allelopathic effect of roots has been shown to be stronger than that of leaves (Ma et al, 2006;Wu et al, 2011).…”