ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to reveal the application of chitosan in agricultural field. Chitosan enhances plant growth, plant elicitor, and secondary metabolite production in plants, which provide them resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses. Chitosan is an exogenous elicitor of response mechanisms and has been demonstrated to induce plant defenses in chili seeds; fresh cut broccoli, raspberry, and many other fruits and vegetables; avocado; tomato; and dragon fruit. The use of biotic or abiotic elicitors is one of the ways to increase the yields of secondary metabolites in vitro cultures. Due to certain harmful effects of synthetic fungicides on human health and environment, there is a need to look for some safe alternatives. Chitosan has been used to prevent microbial deterioration of refrigerated fresh produces. It is clear that chitosan and its derivatives are excellent in promoting plant growth, have high antibacterial activity, increase disease resistance, reduce stress and also induce the production of secondary metabolites.
