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Metabolic Engineering of Condensed Tannins and other Phenolic Pathways in Forage and Fodder Crops

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Metabolic Engineering of Plant Secondary Metabolism

Abstract

Despite their name, secondary compounds are of primary importance in forage and fodder crops. But before we discuss specific compounds in particular crops perhaps we should focus on some of the characteristic features of forages and fodders. These crop species are either fed directly to animals (forages) or are used for feed after cutting or for conservation as silage (fodders). If we consider typical forages such as grasses and clovers, these crops are often grown for years on end in medium and long-term leys. It is not surprising therefore that such crops accumulate a wide range of secondary products which function to protect against pathogens, pests and other environmental challenges.1

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Robbins, M.P., Morris, P. (2000). Metabolic Engineering of Condensed Tannins and other Phenolic Pathways in Forage and Fodder Crops. In: Verpoorte, R., Alfermann, A.W. (eds) Metabolic Engineering of Plant Secondary Metabolism. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9423-3_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9423-3_8

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-5475-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-015-9423-3

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