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phytoalexin

Syllabification: (phy·to·a·lex·in)
Pronunciation: /ˌfītōəˈleksin/
Definition of phytoalexin

noun

Botany
  • a substance that is produced by plant tissues in response to contact with a parasite and that specifically inhibits the growth of that parasite.

Origin:

1940s: from phyto- 'of plants' + alexin, a name for a class of substances found in blood serum, able to destroy bacteria

phytoalexin in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of phytoalexin in the British & World English dictionary

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