Antibiotics and Allelopathy

What are antibiotics and allelopathic agents?

Secondary metabolites

What are secondary metabolites?

Substances produced by a pathway that only exists in the same taxonomic group

What are secondary metabolites not essential for?

Growth or function

What are the purpose of secondary metabolites?

Deters potential competitors from their ecological niches

What is the purpose of antibiotics in microorganisms?

Secreted to kill, inhibit, or prevent the growth of other species of organisms.

What organism produce antibiotics?

Fungi.

What is an example of an antibiotic?

Penicillin

What do allelopathic agents do?

Secreted into the soil by plants to kill or deter the growth of neighbouring plants

Give an example of plants that produce allelopathic agents.

Sunflowers and walnuts.