The rise of chemotaxonomy is mainly due to the advancement in analytical techniques for chemical analysis that can detect even trace amounts of chemical compounds. Main purpose of chemotaxonomy: To improve the existing system of plants differentiation.

How is chemotaxonomy useful?

Chemotaxonomy studies the chemical variation in microbial cells and the use of chemical characteristics in the classification and identification of bacteria; it can be very helpful in the modern approach of bacterial polyphasic taxonomy.

Why chemotaxonomy is used generally for classification of plants?

The chemical structure of the secondary metabolites and their biosynthetic pathways is often specific and restricted to taxonomically related organisms and hence useful in classification. This method of classification is considered better in comparison to traditional method due to the ease of working methodology.