Primary & Secondary Metabolites

[Guest]

I was just listening to the groomstead podcast when I thought I'd look up this subject: Primary & Secondary Metabolites

This is very interesting subject which I haven't really touched on yet.

I thought if I started a thread some responses of peoples understanding of the subject could help others as well as myself learn more.

What I found most fascinating about this was how it included general plant health as well as the stresses and what is causes in the plant etc... how the plant responds chemically, then terpenes and various other avenues (lovely rabbit hole) this subject could last for some time to learn.
When you think about it, terpenes (which has been mentioned here before) are more prevalent after stress, draught stress etc..... so over watering or underwatering in the last stages of the plants life could help the plant produce more terpenes and other goodies from the plants metabolic response?

Am I going in the correct direction?

[GMO]

A primary metabolite is a kind of metabolite that is directly involved in normal growth, development, and reproduction. It usually performs a physiological function in the organism (i.e. an intrinsic function). ... Some common examples of primary metabolites include: lactic acid, and certain amino acids

Secondary metabolites, also called specialised metabolites, toxins, secondary products, or natural products, are organic compounds produced by bacteria, fungi, or plants which are not directly involved in the normal growth, development, or reproduction of the organism

does that help?

[Guest]

A primary metabolite is a kind of metabolite that is directly involved in normal growth, development, and reproduction. It usually performs a physiological function in the organism (i.e. an intrinsic function). ... Some common examples of primary metabolites include: lactic acid, and certain amino acids

Secondary metabolites, also called specialised metabolites, toxins, secondary products, or natural products, are organic compounds produced by bacteria, fungi, or plants which are not directly involved in the normal growth, development, or reproduction of the organism

does that help?

Yeah I have got that far

When you start looking into it further and trying to undertand every other bit of detailing/wording, there is quite a lot more to it? Especially coming from someone who doesn't have a GCSE or any kind in science

[GMO]

i think for me the key was that secondary are all reactions to stimuli which could be seen as negative to the plants life unless they are produced. so as gardeners we are trying to provide a robust enough health for our plants that minor stresses can encourage the production of secondary metabolites without devoting a large portion of the plants energy to producing the defense.

secondary metabolites are incredibly expensive in the sense of what energy and compounds a plant has to devote to the production, so thats where optimum health comes in when we are trying to apply minor stresses.