Elicitors for Improving Biochemical Production - Some molecules stimulate the production of secondary metabolites; these are called elicitors, and the phenomenon is known as elicitation. Elicitors produced within plant cells are termed as endogenous elicitors, while those produced by microorganisms are called exogenous elicitors.

Elicitors of plant origin are polysaccharides derived fryuhom-cell walls, e.g., pectin, pectic acid, cellulose, while those of microorganism origin are cell wall components like chitin, chitosan or glucans. These elicitors are of biological origin; hence they are called biotic elicitors.