**6.5 A target for molecular biology-based breeding and other biotechnological approaches: metabolism of plant glandular Trichomes**

Trichomes are specialized biosynthetic, storage structures composed of epidermal extensions found on the surface of aerial plant parts. They can exist in both nonglandular and glandular trichrome forms and are widespread throughout the plant kingdom. Glandular trichomes can produce, store, and release exudates containing a wide range of chemo-diverse compounds such as essential oils, oleoresins, phenols, glycerids, and extremely complex terpenes [142]. Efficient isolation techniques such as laser microdissection pressure catapulting (LMPC) has aided with the separation and enrichment of specific cell types, such as multicellular glandular trichomes allowing chemical, transcriptional, and biosynthetic studies to focus solely on specialized glandular metabolites [143].
