phytoalexin Hear it!

phytoalexin Definition

phyto·alex·in (fīt′ō ə lek′sin)

noun

an antibiotic produced by a plant in response to the intrusion of a disease-producing agent, esp. a fungus

Etymology: < phyto- + Gr alexein, to defend

phytoalexin Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • elicitor: Only those pectin fragments of a particular size are effective phytoalexin elicitors.