A phase of elevated metabolic activity, during which oxygen consumption increases made as part of a defense response ; this leads to the production, by an NADH dependent system, of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide anions and hydroxyl radicals. [ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12789499 http://openisbn.com/search.php?q=0781735149&isbn=1/ GOC:add ]