Elicitation

Certain secondary metabolites, phytoalexins, are accumulated in plants after infection by microorganisms. These compounds possess anti-microbial activity and thus function as a chemical defence to protect the plant.

Compounds released by a pathogen or parts of the pathogen cell wall may give a similar response. These compounds were termed elicitors and the process of inducing the production of phytoalexins elicitation.

Besides compounds of pathogenic origin there is a range of stress agents, which can also induce product accumulation. The stress agents include: UV-radiation, exposure to cold or heat, ethylene, fungicides, antibiotics, salts of heavy metals and high salt concentrations.