Roles of plant volatiles in defence against microbial pathogens and microbial exploitation of volatiles. (26th July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hammerbacher, Almuth; Coutinho, Teresa A.; Gershenzon, Jonathan
• Is Part Of: Plant, cell and environment. Volume 42:Number 10(2019)
• Page Start: 2827
• Page End: 2843
• Publication Date: 2019-07-26
• Subjects: aromatic volatiles -- detoxification -- direct defence -- green leaf volatiles -- insect vectors -- systemic induced resistance -- terpenes; Plant physiology -- Periodicals; Plant cells and tissues -- Periodicals; Plant communities -- Periodicals; 581.105
• DOI: 10.1111/pce.13602
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0140-7791

Abstract

Abstract: Plants emit a large variety of volatile organic compounds during infection by pathogenic microbes, including terpenes, aromatics, nitrogen‐containing compounds, and fatty acid derivatives, as well as the volatile plant hormones, methyl jasmonate, and methyl salicylate. Given the general antimicrobial activity of plant volatiles and the timing of emission following infection, these compounds have often been assumed to function in defence against pathogens without much solid evidence. In this review, we critically evaluate current knowledge on the toxicity of volatiles to fungi, bacteria, and viruses and their role in plant resistance as well as how they act to induce systemic resistance in uninfected parts of the plant and in neighbouring plants. We also discuss how microbes can detoxify plant volatiles and exploit them as nutrients, attractants for insect vectors, and inducers of volatile emissions, which stimulate immune responses that make plants more susceptible to infection. Although much more is known about plant volatile–herbivore interactions, knowledge of volatile–microbe interactions is growing and it may eventually be possible to harness plant volatiles to reduce disease in agriculture and forestry. Future research in this field can be facilitated by making use of the analytical and molecular tools generated by the prolific research on plant–herbivore interactions. Abstract : We critically evaluate current knowledge on plant volatiles as direct defences against microbes and as signals that trigger defence responses. We also describe how microbes detoxify plant volatiles and use them for their own benefit as nutrients and attractants for insect vectors.