Biosynthetic interdependence of lignins and secondary metabolites in angiosperms

• Published in: Phytochemistry (Oxford) 1995-09, Vol.40 (1), p.99-113
• Main Authors: Gottlieb, Otto R., De M. B. Borin, Maria Renata, Kaplan, Maria Auxiliadora C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Plant cytology, morphology, systematics, chorology and evolution; Spermatophyta; Systematics (diagnosis, chromosome numbers)
• ISSN: 0031-9422; 1873-3700
• DOI: 10.1016/0031-9422(95)00127-S

The morphology and metabolism of angiosperms are connected to lignin production. Morphology depends on the structure of genetically controlled cellulose templates for lignin deposition; metabolism is the consequence of lignin-requirement directed biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Hence, it is possible to correlate morphological features (such as evolutionary replacement of woodiness by herbaceousness) with general chemical features (such as evolutionary replacement of aromatics by aliphatics) and with particular chemical features (such as oxidative diversification of biosynthetic categories of metabolites). The first correlation is useful for the systematic classification of plants at higher levels (e.g. orders). The last correlation is useful for the evolutionary assessment of plants at lower levels (e.g. families). These concepts allow the construction of an integrated system of angiosperm classification based on morphology for the circumscription of taxa and on chemistry for the evolutionary assessment of plant groups.