What primary role do secondary compounds play in plant survival?
Understand the Problem
The question asks about the primary role of secondary compounds in plant survival. It presents four potential roles and asks to identify the main one.
Answer
Secondary compounds primarily function in plant defense against herbivores and microbial infections.
Secondary compounds in plants primarily function in defense mechanisms. They protect against herbivores and microbial infections. Additionally, they can act as attractants for pollinators and seed-dispersing animals and can influence competition among plant species.
Answer for screen readers
Secondary compounds in plants primarily function in defense mechanisms. They protect against herbivores and microbial infections. Additionally, they can act as attractants for pollinators and seed-dispersing animals and can influence competition among plant species.
More Information
Secondary metabolites are organic compounds produced by plants that are not directly involved in their growth, development, or reproduction.
Tips
A common mistake is to think secondary compounds are essential for plant survival, which is not always the case, unlike primary metabolites.
Sources
- Secondary Metabolite - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics - sciencedirect.com
- 6.3 Plant secondary metabolites - Intro To Botany - Fiveable - library.fiveable.me
- Secondary Metabolites: Definition & Examples | Vaia - vaia.com
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