Secondary metabolites are gaining an increasing importance in various industries, such as pharmaceuticals, dyes, and food, as is the need for reliable and efficient methods of procuring these compounds. To develop sustainable and cost-effective approaches, a comprehensive understanding of the biosynthetic pathways and the factors influencing secondary metabolite production is essential. These compounds are a unique type of natural product which recognizes the oxidative damage caused by stresses, thereby activating the defence mechanism in plants. Various methods have been developed to enhance the production of secondary metabolites in plants. The elicitor-induced in vitro culture technique is considered an efficient tool for studying and improving the production of secondary metabolites in plants. In the present review, we have documented various biosynthetic pathways and the role of secondary metabolites under diverse environmental stresses. Furthermore, a practical strategy for obtaining consistent and abundant secondary metabolite production via various elicitation agents used in culturing techniques is also mentioned. By elucidating the intricate interplay of regulatory factors, this review paves the way for future advancements in sustainable and efficient production methods for high-value secondary metabolites.

Synthetic seed technology is an innovative in vitro technique that provides improved storage capabilities for vegetative propagules. Its success mostly depends on the encapsulation matrix’s composition and the encapsulation procedure. The present study focuses on optimizing an encapsulation protocol for short-term storage and germplasm exchange using micro-cuttings of Salix tetrasperma. Among the different synthetic seed types evaluated, double-layered synthetic seeds (DLSs) exhibited the highest re-growth (93.6%) on MS medium supplemented with meta-Topolin (mT) (5.0 µM) and α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) (0.5 µM) after 8 weeks of culture. Viability assessment of non-embryogenic synthetic seeds during low-temperature storage (4 °C) demonstrated the enhanced resilience of double-layered synthetic seeds (DLSs) compared to their single-layered (SLS) counterparts. Following acclimatization in Soilrite^®-filled cups, 82% of the plantlets were successfully established in a greenhouse after four weeks. The increased activity and concentration of antioxidants in DLS-derived plantlets suggest the potential role of the extra layer of alginate in mitigating the effects of low-temperature stress during storage. SCoT molecular analysis confirmed the genetic integrity of the synthetic seed-derived plants.