Plants have a remarkable ability to ‘spy’ on their neighbors by detecting growth spurts through aromatic cues, according to new research from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. The study, published in the Journal of Experimental Botany, reveals that plants use volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to communicate and adjust their growth strategies.
Understanding Plant Communication
VOCs are carbon-based chemicals that easily evaporate into the air and are commonly produced by plants. They are known for their role in communication with herbivores, pollinators, and other plants. These compounds are responsible for the diverse fragrances plants emit and are used in products like perfumes and food.
Previously, research focused on VOCs released by damaged plants as alarm signals. However, this study highlights the role of VOCs from healthy plants in competitive environments. Lead author Velemir Ninkovic explains that plants release a chemical ‘fingerprint’ that neighboring plants can detect, allowing them to adjust their growth and defense strategies.
Implications for Agriculture
The research involved experiments with barley, a crucial cereal crop, using three cultivars with different growth rates. The study found that exposure to VOCs from fast-growing neighbors led plants to increase their growth, while VOCs from slow-growing neighbors resulted in reduced growth. This adjustment was consistent across all plant parts, including leaves, stems, and roots.
Genetic analysis showed that these growth changes were linked to shifts in gene expression related to growth and defense. VOCs like benzyl nitrile, linalool, and octanal, which contribute to floral fragrances, were identified as key signals.
Ninkovic suggests that this VOC interaction might be widespread across the plant kingdom, with variations between species. Understanding these interactions could have practical applications in agriculture, potentially leading to more efficient crop management strategies.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
