Morphology of glandular trichome and lignin-based structure for its function

Glandular trichomes play critical roles in plant defense, pollination, and environmental adaptation through the synthesis, storage, and secretion of a diverse range of compounds, including specialized metabolites and inorganic compounds. They are also referred to as a “bio-factory” owing to their significant commercial value in industries. The morphology of glandular trichomes significantly affects their capacity to synthesize and store these compounds. Additionally, glandular trichomes develop a lignin-based structure for storing compounds, known as the neck strip, which was first found in cucumber and compartmentalized the substances they produced. This perspective explores the diversity of trichome morphology across different plant species and outlines the cellular structures that facilitate the storage of compounds. Furthermore, we discuss the mechanisms underlying the morphology formation and lignin-based structure in glandular trichomes. These insights may pave the way to innovative strategies for enhancing plant growth and boosting industrial metabolite production.