Integrating Plant Nutrients and Elicitors for Production of Secondary Metabolites, Sustainable Crop Production and Human Health: A Review

[...]any technique that modifies plant metabolism can decrease yields. [...]developing techniques to increase both agricultural product yield and quality is necessary. [...]changes have increased agricultural yields (Dayan et al., 2009) because of the more rapid growth of crops (Stefanelly et al., 2010). [...]improved plant care and optimal climate handling have improved the conditions for plant growth (Bennett et al., 2012) and reduced the production of secondary metabolites (SMs). Certain SMs reduce the risk of disease, including colon cancer (Russell and Duthie, 2011) and, reduce blood pressure, serum lipids, diabetes mellitus, obesity (Perez-Vizcaino and Duarte, 2010) and cardiovascular diseases (Bernal et al., 2011). Soil contains essential (EEs) and non-essential elements (NEEs) in inadequate ratios for plant nutrition, and under stress conditions, plants produce more SMs (de Costa et al., 2013). [...]SMs alter normal growth, resulting in decreased crop yields. A similar effect is caused in the soil by NEEs. [...]the agricultural industry should focus on obtaining high yields with greater nutraceutical quality to promote public health. An alternative could be to work with the CA techniques with a consideration for yield and nutraceutical quality. [...]sustainable agriculture must be promoted. Categories of secondary metabolites in plants and their effects on health SMs group Health benefit Reference Alkaloids Antioxidant Herraiz and Galisteo, 2003 Rheumatoid arthritis Wang et al., 2007b Anticancer Kabashima et al., 2010 Anti-inflammatory activity Yang et al., 2007 Hypertension Monteiro et al., 2012 Polyphenols Antimutagenic Feregrino-Perez et al., 2011 Antioxidant Krinsky and Johnson, 2005 Anticancer Fresco et al., 2006 Antimicrobial Veloz-García...