Photo credit: phys.org
Plant-Derived Aerosols Influence Interactions Among Plants
A recent study published in Science has uncovered the role of secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) in facilitating interactions among plants. This innovative research was a collaborative effort involving experts in chemical ecology, plant ecophysiology, and atmospheric physics at the University of Eastern Finland.
It is widely acknowledged that plants emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in response to herbivore damage, serving as a means of communication with neighboring flora. These emissions enable undamaged plants to sense the presence of damage in their vicinity and initiate defensive mechanisms.
Dr. Hao Yu, who conducted the research during his Ph.D. program at UEF and now continues his work at the University of Bern, explained, “When reactive VOCs undergo oxidative processes, they produce secondary organic aerosols. Our focus was to determine whether the ecological functions originally mediated by VOCs are retained after they transform into SOAs.”
The findings indicated that when Scots pine seedlings are harmed by large pine weevils, they release VOCs that trigger defense responses in nearby pine plants. Notably, these biological activities continued even after the VOCs converted into SOAs. The research suggested that the specific composition and quantity of these aerosols are crucial in determining their biological effects.
Professor James Blande, head of the Environmental Ecology Research Group, stated, “A significant outcome of this study is the observation that plants may adopt slightly varied defense strategies depending on whether they receive chemical signals as VOCs or as SOAs. Nevertheless, the plants demonstrate comparable resistance levels to herbivore attacks.” This suggests that plants may have advanced sensing capabilities that allow them to adjust their defense mechanisms based on different chemical cues.
Furthermore, Professor Annele Virtanen, leading the Aerosol Physics Research Group, commented, “Given the rate at which SOAs form from precursor VOCs, along with their longer persistence in the environment and their ability to be transported across atmospheric masses, it is reasonable to assume that the distance over which SOAs facilitate plant interactions surpasses that of VOC-mediated communications.” This implies that plants can distinguish between immediate and distant threats posed by herbivores.
This groundbreaking study paves the way for a new research avenue for environmental ecologists, potentially leading to deeper understanding of the chemical interactions shaping plant relationships.
More information: Hao Yu et al, “Biogenic secondary organic aerosol participates in plant interactions and herbivory defense,” Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.ado6779
Provided by the University of Eastern Finland.
Citation: Study shows plant-derived secondary organic aerosols can act as mediators of plant-plant interactions (2024, September 13) retrieved 13 September 2024 from this link.
This article is intended for informational purposes. All rights reserved.
Source
phys.org