Secondary metabolites and ecosystem functioning plant soil relation - brown food chain

Secondary metabolites and ecosystem functioning plant soil relation - brown food chain 

Plant detritus ean, therefore, eontain labile compounds (eg. sugars), relfaetoiy eompounds to deeomposition (e.g. lignin) and decomposers inhibitor compounds (e.g. phenolic compounds). The relative proportion of these compounds in the litter will influenee its rate of decomposition because decomposer organisms will have different abilities to degrade each type of compound. Also, microbial decomposers ean generate new compounds from their transformation activity (e g. tarmin-protein eomplexation). 

PfkCfwUc compounds of green leaves PhefKp]ic compounds of leaf Miter Ergosterol from leaf liner 

Tannins can also affect the nitrogen and carbon cycles they can complex proteins or metallic ions and can present toxicity for microorganisms and inhibit enzymatic activities. In the majority of studies, mineralization of the nitrogen is decreased by the addition of tannins, while the effects on carbon mineralization remain more variable. By their characteristic link to proteins, tannins inhibit the microbial extracellular enz5mies and can also limit the available substrates for microbial growth. The difference in tannin content of the leaves seems to act on the aquatic macroinvertebrate communities using 

Finally, the impact of terpenes on soil microorganisms, in particular the monoterpenes, is complex, because it can inhibit the activity and growth of 

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