Elicitation and Their Significance on Essential Oil Production

Abstract

Essential oils (EOs) are compounds derived from plants, recognized for their healing and fragrant characteristics. They are crucial for both the plants protection against biological and environmental stresses and for the well-being of human and animal. Their medicinal use is widely recognized due to the health benefits they offer. With the growing demand for EOs across various industrial sectors, new agricultural strategies are emerging to enhance both production and quality, such as the use of elicitors. Elicitors are described as substances that originate from biological sources or microorganisms that, when applied to plants, lead to higher productivity and enhanced resistance to stress. In the case of aromatic species, the application of elicitors can also lead to higher concentrations of EO in the plant, due to the triggering of genes associated with the biosynthetic process. The use of elicitors derived from rhizobacteria, mycorrhizal fungi, seaweed extracts, and other sources has demonstrated notable effects in boosting EO production in plants and altering their chemical profile. In this chapter, we explore the topic “Elicitation and Their Significance on Essential Oil Production” through the following sections: (1) the different types of elicitors and their application methods used, (2) the mechanisms by which elicitors act on plants, and (3) the impact of using elicitors on the production and composition of EOs.