noun
- Antimicrobial compounds produced by plants in response to infection or injury, serving as a natural defense mechanism against pathogens.
Usage: technical; biology; usually plural
Examples
- Phytoalexins are produced by plants when they detect the presence of fungal or bacterial pathogens.
- The accumulation of phytoalexins in infected plant tissues helps limit the spread of disease.
- Researchers study phytoalexins to understand how plants naturally resist infections.
- Different plant species produce different types of phytoalexins as part of their immune response.
- Phytoalexins can be toxic to both the invading pathogen and sometimes to the plant itself in high concentrations.