PLANT METABOLISM

Metabolism is the set of life-sustaining chemical transformations within the plant cell. On one hand, primary metabolism comprises all metabolic pathways that are essential to the plant's survival, generating compounds (metabolites) that are directly involved in the growth and development of the organism. On the other hand, secondary metabolism produces a large number of specialized compounds that are not essential to the functioning of the plant but are required for the plant to survive in its environment. Secondary plant metabolites are useful in the long term, often for defence purposes, they give plants characteristics such as colour, are also used in communication, signalling and regulation of primary metabolic pathways (e.g. phytohormones).