Microbial degradation of plant toxins

Abstract

Plants produce a variety of secondary metabolites in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Although they have many functions, a subclass of toxic secondary metabolites mainly serve plants as deterring agents against herbivores, insects, or pathogens. Microorganisms present in divergent ecological niches, such as soil, water, or insect and rumen gut systems have been found capable of detoxifying these metabolites. As a result of detoxification, microbes gain growth nutrients and benefit their herbivory host via detoxifying symbiosis. Here, we review current knowledge on microbial degradation of toxic alkaloids, glucosinolates, terpenes, and polyphenols with an emphasis on the genes and enzymes involved in breakdown pathways. We highlight that the insect‐associated microbes might find application in biotechnology and become targets for an alternative microbial pest control strategy.

Microbiota of pest insect Nezara viridula mediate detoxification and plant defense repression

“…Insects have coevolved with their host plants and harbor a wealth of adaptations that allow them to feed on plants with specialized defense mechanisms involving secondary plant metabolites [ 25–28 ]. Even though insects themselves adapted to coping with toxic compounds, they often acquire symbiotic microorganisms that aid in breaking down toxic plant metabolites through detoxifying symbiosis [ 4 , 24 , 29–34 ].…”