Emission and Perception: Two Parts of Plant Volatile Communication

Abstract

Plants synthesize an amazing diversity of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that facilitate interactions with their environment, ranging from attracting pollinators and seed dispersers to protecting themselves from pathogens, parasites, and herbivores. Plants are also targets of released compounds as a part of plant-plant communication, as well as plant-insect and plant-microbe interactions. They are constantly exposed to atmospheric VOCs and can differentiate and respond to specific cues. Therefore, VOC release out of the cell and perception of emitted volatiles are an essential part of information exchange. The presented results will cover different aspects of VOC emission including the role of trans porters, lipid transfer proteins and lipid droplets in VOC trafficking out of the cell, and the function of the cuticle as an integral member of the overall VOC biosynthetic network. This presentation will also discuss the latest knowledge about VOC perception: from an inter-organ aerial transport of VOCs via natural fumigation and hormone-like function for terpenoid compounds to a signaling pathway(s) involved.