Omics and plant tissue culture for secondary metabolite production and synthetic biology

Molecular markers, Genome-Wide association studies, and Quantitative trait locus mapping accelerate breeding, in which plant genetic transformation and stable regeneration protocols, including embryo rescue and somaclonal variation, are highlighted. Omics insights into stress management, yield improvement, genes enhance and crop performance. Plant-derived secondary metabolites are vital natural compounds with diverse pharmaceutical, nutritional, and industrial applications, including recent uses in COVID-19 treatment due to their antiviral properties. However, the escalating global demand for secondary metabolites threatens plant biodiversity. To address this, microbial cell factories have emerged as promising platforms for sustainable secondary metabolites production, albeit challenges remain in achieving cost-effective production at scale. Endophytes, which reside within plant tissues, are gaining attention for their ability to synthesize bioactive compounds like alkaloid, flavonoids, phenols, terpenoids, etc. They offer potential as alternative sources or genetic reservoirs for secondary metabolites production, utilizing strategies such as heterologous gene expression and biotransformation. This review summarizes current research on secondary metabolites biosynthesis, highlighting their commercial potential, discussing challenges and future prospects in enhancing secondary metabolites production through synthetic biology and multiomics approaches.