color of plants and act as a natural defense system against disease and infection.
Phytochemicals include a wide range of chemical structures with diverse physiological functions such as carotenoids, phenolic compounds, glucosinolates, saponins, sulfides, phytosterols, phytoestrogens, monoterpenes, and protease inhibitors.
Bioactive a substance or a compound that has a biological activity on a living
organism. The concept is usually only associated with positive effects on an
organism. They are extranutritional constituents that usually occur in small
quantities in foods and could display antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic
properties, etc.
Secondary metabolite chemicals produced by plants for which no role has yet
been found in growth, photosynthesis, reproduction, or other ‘‘primary’’ function.
It can serve as a signal molecule to attract pollinators and seed-dispersers, or
mediate pathogenic, parasitic, or symbiotic interactions.
Nutraceuticals commodities derived from foods, but are used in the medicinal
form of pills, capsules, potions and liquids, and again render demonstrated
physiological benefits.
Functional food products that resemble traditional foods but possess demonstrated physiological benefits.
Conventional agricultural practices farming system that alter or change the
natural environment through tilling of the soil and installation of irrigation
systems. It uses inorganic fertilizers, pesticides, one crop. It has two objectives:
maximize crop yield and earnings.
Organic agricultural practices system of farming that enhances biodiversity
and soil biological activity. The use of off-farm inputs and on management
practices is minimum. It is only allow use of organic amendments or organic
fertilizers.
Integrated agricultural practices in this practice the use of pesticides and
chemicals is limited. There is a sober-headed application of biotechnological,
biological, chemical treatments, culture practices, and plant selection.
Elicitors chemicals or biofactors that can induce physiological changes in a
target living organism. They can trigger physiological and morphological
responses, as well as phytoalexin accumulation (Zhao et al. 2005).
It is expressed by the Royal Society that ‘‘food security is one of this century’s
key global challenges’’ (Davies et al. 2009). The world population is estimated to
increase up to 9 billion by 2050. Consequently demand for food will rise. As
plants feed humans, either directly or indirectly, it remains a clear challenge to
define how agricultural production could encourage health for all people. During
the past years, the primary objective of agriculture has been to increase yield in
order to feed a growing population; notwithstanding, the challenge is not just a
matter of increasing crop yield, but also the amount of bioactive compounds in
agricultural products (McGloughlin 2010).
Agricultural practices have usually focused on providing to plants all the
necessary conditions (temperature, radiation, humidity, fertilizers, etc.) to increase
yield (Bennett et al. 2012); however, these measures have depressed the synthesis
of secondary metabolites since these products are produced during conditions of
1 Strategies for Sustainable Plant Food Production
31
Phytochemicals include a wide range of chemical structures with diverse physiological functions such as carotenoids, phenolic compounds, glucosinolates, saponins, sulfides, phytosterols, phytoestrogens, monoterpenes, and protease inhibitors.
Bioactive a substance or a compound that has a biological activity on a living
organism. The concept is usually only associated with positive effects on an
organism. They are extranutritional constituents that usually occur in small
quantities in foods and could display antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic
properties, etc.
Secondary metabolite chemicals produced by plants for which no role has yet
been found in growth, photosynthesis, reproduction, or other ‘‘primary’’ function.
It can serve as a signal molecule to attract pollinators and seed-dispersers, or
mediate pathogenic, parasitic, or symbiotic interactions.
Nutraceuticals commodities derived from foods, but are used in the medicinal
form of pills, capsules, potions and liquids, and again render demonstrated
physiological benefits.
Functional food products that resemble traditional foods but possess demonstrated physiological benefits.
Conventional agricultural practices farming system that alter or change the
natural environment through tilling of the soil and installation of irrigation
systems. It uses inorganic fertilizers, pesticides, one crop. It has two objectives:
maximize crop yield and earnings.
Organic agricultural practices system of farming that enhances biodiversity
and soil biological activity. The use of off-farm inputs and on management
practices is minimum. It is only allow use of organic amendments or organic
fertilizers.
Integrated agricultural practices in this practice the use of pesticides and
chemicals is limited. There is a sober-headed application of biotechnological,
biological, chemical treatments, culture practices, and plant selection.
Elicitors chemicals or biofactors that can induce physiological changes in a
target living organism. They can trigger physiological and morphological
responses, as well as phytoalexin accumulation (Zhao et al. 2005).
It is expressed by the Royal Society that ‘‘food security is one of this century’s
key global challenges’’ (Davies et al. 2009). The world population is estimated to
increase up to 9 billion by 2050. Consequently demand for food will rise. As
plants feed humans, either directly or indirectly, it remains a clear challenge to
define how agricultural production could encourage health for all people. During
the past years, the primary objective of agriculture has been to increase yield in
order to feed a growing population; notwithstanding, the challenge is not just a
matter of increasing crop yield, but also the amount of bioactive compounds in
agricultural products (McGloughlin 2010).
Agricultural practices have usually focused on providing to plants all the
necessary conditions (temperature, radiation, humidity, fertilizers, etc.) to increase
yield (Bennett et al. 2012); however, these measures have depressed the synthesis
of secondary metabolites since these products are produced during conditions of
1 Strategies for Sustainable Plant Food Production
31