Metabolomics and its Application in Plant Pathology

Metabolomics or analysis of the whole cellular metabolites is a new and powerful tool that provides a quick view to the large numbers of small molecules (metabolites) within the cell and indicates dynamics of these molecules under different conditions. Quantitative and qualitative measurements of these metabolites provide some useful information on biochemical status of the cell so can be used to monitor the gene functions. Nowadays, metabolomics has a wide range of application in agriculture. Metabolomics is mainly used for the study of plant responses to a wide range of biotic or abiotic stresses including plant storage diseases as well as the resistance of plants to the pathogens. Since metabolites are final products of gene expression and all changes in gene expression is reflected in metabolite profiles, hence metabolite profiles provide a good comprehensive understanding of plant defense mechanisms against plant pathogens. This is a rapid, simple and accurate tool for identifying the metabolites associated with resistance as a biomarker for screening the resistant cultivars against plant diseases. In addition, understanding the resistance mechanisms at molecular level provide a better understanding of resistant gene function and pyramiding suitable resistant gene in elite cultivar. This is a review article on different methods of studying the plant metabolites and their administrative problems in plant pathology.