The Chemical Language of Plant Defense: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Tritrophic Interactions
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Abstract
To defend themselves against herbivores, plants have evolved a sophisticated chemical "language" that mostly consists of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). By serving VOCs as signals to attract predators and parasitoids that prey on herbivores, these herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) establish a tritrophic relationship that benefits plants and their ecological partners. In addition to discouraging herbivores, HIPVs are essential for communicating with neighbouring plants, which may "evesdrop" on these signals and bolster their defences. By interacting with higher trophic levels, this complex system highlights the deep ecological linkages that plants use to deal with challenges. Molecular processes including the jasmonic acid signalling system, which synchronizes plant defences against herbivory, control the synthesis of HIPVs. In addition to their ecological significance, HIPVs have a lot of promise for sustainable agriculture as they can replace conventional synthetic pesticides. These natural volatiles may boost biodiversity and increase crop resilience through integrated pest management (IPM). This study offers a thorough understanding of how plants use their chemical defences to survive and thrive by exploring the mechanisms behind HIPV production, their ecological roles and potential agricultural uses. This review provides the basis for sustainable pest control strategies by exploring the "chemical language" of plant defence and emphasizing VOCs' critical role in supporting tritrophic interactions.
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