Exudare

Exudare is a term historically used in biology and botany to refer to the act of exuding or to substances that are exuded by organisms. Derived from Latin, the word functions as a generic descriptor for fluids and materials released from tissues or cells, though in contemporary scientific writing the more precise terms exudation and exudate are typically preferred.

In plants, exudation describes the release of liquids such as sap, resins, gums, or mucilages from wounded or secretory tissues. The process can play a defensive role by sealing wounds, deterring herbivores, or inhibiting pathogen entry, as well as a physiological role in transport, storage, or communication within the plant. The composition of exudates varies widely among species and can include sugars, amino acids, organic acids, minerals, phenolics, and other secondary metabolites.

Root exudation is a well-studied area, with exudare used in older literature to encompass the suite of compounds released by roots into the surrounding soil. These root exudates influence the rhizosphere microbial community, nutrient availability, and plant–microbe interactions. In microbiology, some cells and biofilms may exude enzymes or secondary metabolites, and exudare can be encountered as a general descriptor for the release process.

In medical contexts, the term exudare is uncommon; wound exudate is the standard term for fluid released from damaged tissue. Overall, exudare is largely supplanted by the more specific terms exudation and exudate in modern usage. See also exudate, exudation, root exudates, resin, and wound exudate.