How does a plant orchestrate defense in time and space? Using glucosinolates in Arabidopsis as case study

•Spatial and temporal distribution patterns of glucosinolates are highly dynamic.•Glucosinolate sinks include seeds, leaf margin, cuticula, epidermis and rhizosphere.•Stele-synthesized glucosinolates require import proteins for rhizosecretion.•Circadian clock entrainment may improve quality and storage of crucifer vegetables.

The sessile nature of plants has caused plants to develop means to defend themselves against attacking organisms. Multiple strategies range from physical barriers to chemical warfare including pre-formed anticipins as well as phytoalexins produced only upon attack. While phytoalexins require rapid induction, constitutive defenses can impose ecological costs if they deter pollinators or attract specialized herbivores. In the model Arabidopsis thaliana, the well-characterized glucosinolate anticipins are categorized into different classes, aliphatic and indole glucosinolates, depending on their amino acid precursor. Using glucosinolates in Arabidopsis as case study, we will discuss how plants orchestrate synthesis, storage and activation of pre-formed defense compounds spatially and temporally.