phytoalexin

American

[fahy-toh-uh-lek-sin] / ˌfaɪ toʊ əˈlɛk sɪn /

noun

Biochemistry.

any of a class of plant compounds that accumulate at the site of invading microorganisms and confer resistance to disease.

phytoalexin British

/ ˌfaɪtəʊəˈlɛksɪn /

noun

botany any of a group of substances produced by plants that inhibit the growth of pathogenic fungi that infect them

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of phytoalexin

First recorded in 1945–50; phyto- + alexin

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Polyphenols are antioxidants, given their name based on the number of phenols in their grouping,” explains Dr. Graf, “Resveratrol is a polyphenolic phytoalexin compound found in grapes, red wine and certain berries.”

From Forbes

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023