Cotton Research Center,Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences,Jinan 250100, China

During the long process of evolution, plants have adapted to their environments through the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites (SM) using the acetate-malonate pathway, mevalonic acids pathway, or shikimic acid pathway, leading to resistance to different pests. As a major cash crop, cotton can produce many secondary metabolites with insecticidal activity, and show self-defense mechanisms under biotic stress conditions. These characteristics of cotton ensure reduced pest incidence and maintenance of ecological balance. This paper discusses the types of SMs, their synthesis, and insect resistance of cotton secondary metabolites in relation to their defense function. We propose possible pest-control strategies using secondary metabolites in cotton.