Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2026
06:50
Wide-Field, Real-Time Imaging of Local and Systemic Wound Signals in Arabidopsis
Published on: June 4, 2021
Revisiting volatile organic compounds' role in plant communication using real-time bioimaging
Natsuko Kinoshita1, Mariko S Hirakawa1, Takuya Uehara2
1Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Frontiers in Plant Science
|July 3, 2026
Summary
Plants communicate using Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) even without Green Leaf Volatiles (GLVs). New research shows other compounds like alkanes and acetophenone mediate this plant communication, attracting beneficial insects.
Area of Science:
- Plant Biology
- Chemical Ecology
- Plant-Insect Interactions
Background:
- Plants emit Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) upon insect attack, signaling neighbors to activate defenses.
- Green Leaf Volatiles (GLVs) are traditionally considered the primary mediators of this plant communication.
- The specificity and abundance of GLVs raise questions about their role in nuanced plant communication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if plant communication occurs independently of GLVs.
- To identify alternative VOCs involved in plant signaling during insect herbivory.
- To understand the mechanisms underlying plant-to-plant communication under stress.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an Arabidopsis thaliana mutant lacking GLV production.
- Employed a novel non-invasive imaging technique to monitor plant responses.
- Measured insect stress marker gene (VSP1) expression and calcium ion dynamics.
Main Results:
- Confirmed plant communication occurs even in the absence of GLVs.
- Observed increased cytosolic calcium ion concentration in undamaged neighboring plants.
- Detected accumulation of acetophenone and alkanes in the headspace of damaged plants.
Conclusions:
- Plant communication is not solely dependent on GLVs.
- Acetophenone and alkanes may act as key signaling molecules in plant defense.
- These VOCs can potentially attract natural enemies of herbivores, enhancing indirect defense.
Related Concept Videos
02:00Photoreceptors and Plant Responses to Light
Light plays a significant role in regulating the growth and development of plants. In addition to providing energy for photosynthesis, light provides other important cues to regulate a range of developmental and physiological responses in plants.
01:09Microbe-Plant Interactions
Microbe-plant interactions represent a dynamic spectrum of associations shaped by intricate chemical signaling. These interactions can be neutral, beneficial, or detrimental, and profoundly influence plant physiology, growth, and ecosystem function. The plant microbiome, comprising bacteria, fungi, archaea, protists, and viruses, plays a pivotal role in mediating these effects through surface colonization, internal colonization, or systemic symbiosis.Mutualistic associations, particularly with...
01:56Plant Hormones
Plant hormones—or phytohormones—are chemical molecules that modulate one or more physiological processes of a plant. In animals, hormones are often produced in specific glands and circulated via the circulatory system. However, plants lack hormone-producing glands.
01:56Plant Hormones
Plant hormones—or phytohormones—are chemical molecules that modulate one or more physiological processes of a plant. In animals, hormones are often produced in specific glands and circulated via the circulatory system. However, plants lack hormone-producing glands.
01:25Cell Signaling in Plants
Plant cells communicate to coordinate their cycle of growth, flowering and fruiting, and activities in roots, shoots, and leaves in response to the changing environmental conditions. Plant signaling is distinct from animal signaling. Plants primarily utilize enzyme-linked receptors, whereas the largest class of cell-surface receptors in animals are G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). Unlike animals, receptor tyrosine kinases are rare in plants. Instead, plants have a diverse class of...