Acylsugar

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Acylsugars are a group of plant-derived protective

trichomes on the plant leaf and stem surface.[1]
Production of copious quantities of these acylsugars give a sticky feel to the plant tissue. In particular, this flower has shown to distract herbivorous insect pests against thrips damage. It is believed that acylsugars provide physical and/or chemical defense to the plant.

Acylsugars are

polyesters that consist of acyl chains on sucrose or glucose backbones. These attached acid chains may vary in length from short to medium which affects the phenotypic characteristics of the plant. Other factors that may affect plant phenotype includes the presence of either glucose or sucrose
, the number of acyl chains as well as the total amounts of acyl sugars.

Distribution

Acylsugars are produced in the secretory glandular

trichomes of various plants, specifically those that belong to the family Solanaceae. These compounds are identified to be responsible for physical and/or chemical defense
plant defense. Additionally, potential commercial applications were also found in these compounds.

Some species that are known to produce acylsugars include

Solanum lycopersicum, Solanum pennellii, Solanum habrochaites, Nicotiana benthamiana, Petunia axillaris and Petunia integrifolia
.

Functions

The function of acylsugars has been the subject of much research. For instance, acylsugars in

pathogens.[3]

Acylsugars are also classified as amphiphiles which provide a supplementary source of water in plants by reducing the surface tension of dew, allowing it to be absorbed more easily.[3]

Acylsugars are also used in pesticides, food additives, cosmetics and personal care products, antibiotics, and anti inflammatory medications. Therefore, acylsugars have been the focus of studies aiming to discover successful breeding crop techniques and synthetic methods of metabolizing acylsugars.[3]

See also

  • Phytochemicals

References

  1. PMID 23054567
    .
  2. ^ D'Ambrosio, D. A.; Mutschler, M.; Walgenbach, J.; Kennedy, G. (November 2013). "The effect of acylsugars of the wild tomato Solanum pennellii on the oviposition behaviour of western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) and tobacco thrips (Frankliniella fusca)". ResearchGate.
  3. ^
    PMID 23054567
    .
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