Terpenoids in plant signaling, chemical ecology

Terpenoids constitute the largest class of secondary metabolites in the plant kingdom. Because of their immense structural diversity and the resulting diversity in physiochemical properties, these molecules are particularly important for plant communication with other organisms. In this article, we will describe the ecological significance of terpenoids for plants, how terpenoid formation is regulated, and the tools we have to improve our understanding of the role of terpenoids in plant ecology and to create crop plants with improved resistance