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Evolution of the Angiosperms and Co-evolution of Secondary Metabolites, Especially of Alkaloids

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Book cover Co-Evolution of Secondary Metabolites

Part of the book series: Reference Series in Phytochemistry ((RSP))

Abstract

Plants produce a wide variety of secondary metabolites (PSM) for protection against herbivores, microorganisms, and competing plants. PSM also function as signal compounds to attract pollinating and fruit-dispersing animals. PSM occur in complex mixtures, which vary between organs and developmental stages of a plant. PSM have been structurally optimized during evolution to affect molecular targets in animals, other plants, and microbes. Many insect herbivores have adapted to the defense chemistry of their host plants and are mono- and oligophagous. The largest class of PSM are alkaloids, which often function as strong neurotoxins against insects and vertebrates. Whereas the production of alkaloids is very limited in spore bearing plants and gymnosperms, they are dominant in angiosperms, which comprise more than 90% of all living plants. Angiosperms develop showy flowers to attract pollinators. However, these pollinators should only feed on nectar but not on the aerial parts or flowers of a plant. It is argued that the diversification of angiosperms was a driving force for the radiation and diversification of insects, which comprise the majority of animals with more than 1.4 million species. As a sort of co-evolution, angiosperms, which rely on animal pollination, started to produce a wide diversity of neurotoxic and fast-acting alkaloids to keep their animal visitors under control.

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Abbreviations

AMP:

Antimicrobial peptide

PSM:

Plant secondary metabolite

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Acknowledgments

My research on plant secondary metabolism, chemical ecology, and evolution for over 40 years was only possible through the collaboration with many students and colleagues and financial support by DFG, BMBF, GTZ, EU, DAAD, KAAD, AvH, CONACYT, Heidelberg University, and scholarship programs of France, Italy, Chile, Argentine, Brazil, Mexico, Egypt, Tunisia, China, Thailand, and Indonesia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology (IPMB), Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany

    Michael Wink

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  1. Michael Wink
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Correspondence to Michael Wink .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Vine and Wine Sciences, University of Bordeaux, Villenave d'Ornon, France

    Jean-Michel Mérillon

  2. Department of Botany, University College of Science, M. L. Sukhadia University, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India

    Kishan Gopal Ramawat

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Wink, M. (2020). Evolution of the Angiosperms and Co-evolution of Secondary Metabolites, Especially of Alkaloids. In: Mérillon, JM., Ramawat, K. (eds) Co-Evolution of Secondary Metabolites. Reference Series in Phytochemistry. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-96397-6_22

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