Low moisture stress influences plant volatile emissions affecting herbivore interactions in tomato, Solanum lycopersicum

Zu et al. 2020 (1) proposed a simple, parameter-free, information-arms-race theory to explain the distributions of plant-herbivore interactions and plant-volatile associations observed in plant-herbivore communities. We received a comment by Bass and Kessler (Oct. 2020) questioning this theory and suggesting that a simpler neutral model can explain the observed distributions. This, with our response, went to peer review and was not published (Oct. 29, 2020). The authors have decided to publish their comment on EcoEvoRxiv (2) and so here, we are posting our reply. In sum, we present arguments to show that the comment from Bass and Kessler is based on an incorrect understanding of our study and furthermore suffers from circular reasoning, and that therefore their conclusions are not supported.

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Photosynthetic Photon Flux, Photoperiod, and Temperature Effects on Emissions of (Z)-3-hexenal, (Z)-3-hexenol, and (Z)-3-hexenyl Acetate from Lettuce

Journal of the American Society for Horticultural Science ◽

10.21273/jashs.121.3.488 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 121 (3) ◽

pp. 488-494 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Craig S. Charron ◽

Daniel J. Cantliffe ◽

Raymond M. Wheeler ◽

Ara Manukian ◽

Robert R. Heath

Keyword(s):

Temperature Effects ◽

Photon Flux ◽

Emission Rates ◽

Total Volatile ◽

Photosynthetic Photon Flux ◽

Volatile Emissions ◽

Plant Volatile ◽

Controlled Environments ◽

Leaf Lettuce ◽

Different Levels

To investigate the effects of environment on plant volatile emissions, `Waldmann's Green' leaf lettuce was cultivated under different levels of photosynthetic photon flux (PPF), photoperiod, and temperature. A modified growth chamber was used to sample plant volatile emissions nondestructively, over time, and under controlled conditions. Total volatile emission rates were significantly higher from lettuce cultivated under PPF of 360 or 200 μmol·m-2·s-1 compared to 105 μmol·m-2·s-1, and significantly higher under a 16-h photoperiod than an 8-h photoperiod. No differences were detected among emission rates from different temperature treatments. In controlled environments, emissions could be regulated by adjusting environmental conditions accordingly.

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Methodological and Ecological Caveats in Deciphering Plant Volatile Emissions: the Case Study of Tomato Exposed to Herbivory and Resource Limitation

10.21203/rs.3.rs-419451/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Alan Kergunteuil ◽

VICTOIRE COQUERET ◽

ROMAIN LARBAT ◽

STÉPHANE ADAMOWICZ ◽

JACQUES LE BOT ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nitrogen Limitation ◽

Resource Limitation ◽

Voc Emissions ◽

Porapak Q ◽

Volatile Emissions ◽

Plant Volatile ◽

Experimental Approaches ◽

Herbivore Species ◽

Blind Spots

Abstract Over recent years, major progress in experimental approaches have bring insights about the ecological functions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by plants. However, deciphering volatile emissions in a methodologically robust and ecologically relevant manner remains a challenging issue. A surge in interest is required to characterize potential blind spots in volatile sampling that could result in dramatic bias in our understanding of VOCs. In parallel, ecologists need to account for various environmental factors in order to address appropriately the sources of variations of VOCs. Here we use two common porous polymers, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and Porapak Q, to collect VOCs released by tomato exposed to herbivory in combination with nitrogen shortage. We dissect two key features of volatile blends, i.e., their composition and their diversity. Upon nitrogen limitation, Porapak Q stresses the up-regulation of a common defensive compound (methyl salicylate), while herbivory induces three terpenes involved in the recruitment of natural enemies of Tuta absoluta (2-carene, ɑ-pinene and β-phellandrene). This study suggests that the combination of resource availability and herbivory governs the differential production of generalist and specific VOCs that are active against a broad spectrum or particular herbivore species, respectively. But PDMS was found unsuitable to observe such patterns in the composition of VOC emissions. Additionally, Porapak Q was found more sensitive than PDMS to track the increase in the diversity of stress-related VOC emissions upon nitrogen limitation. This suggests that plants growing with poor resources release more information in surroundings. We discuss particular implications for tri-trophic-mediated plant defences.

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Screening for Plant Volatile Emissions with Allelopathic Activity and the Identification of L-Fenchone and 1,8-Cineole from Star Anise (Illicium verum) Leaves

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants8110457 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (11) ◽

pp. 457 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gaowa Kang ◽

Maryia Mishyna ◽

Kwame Sarpong Appiah ◽

Masaaki Yamada ◽

Akihito Takano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Volatile Compounds ◽

Inhibitory Activity ◽

Test Plant ◽

Hypocotyl Growth ◽

Allelopathic Potential ◽

Volatile Emissions ◽

Allelopathic Activity ◽

Plant Volatile ◽

Star Anise ◽

Illicium Verum

One hundred and thirty-nine medicinal plant species were screened for their allelopathic activity through volatile emissions using Lactuca sativa as a test plant. Volatile emissions from the leaves of star anise (Illicium verum) showed the highest inhibition (100%) on the radicle and hypocotyl growth. Using headspace gas collection and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), seven major volatile compounds from the leaves of star anise, including α-pinene, β-pinene, camphene, 1,8-cineole, D-limonene, camphor, and L-fenchone were detected. To determine volatile compounds that may contribute to the inhibitory activity of star anise, the allelopathic potential of individual volatiles from star anise was evaluated using the cotton swab bioassay. The EC50 was calculated for each of the seven identified compounds. L-fenchone showed the strongest growth inhibitory activity (EC50 is 1.0 ng/cm3 for radicle and hypocotyl growth of lettuce), followed by 1,8-cineole, and camphene. This is the first report that L-fenchone could be an important volatile allelochemical from the leaves of star anise. From the actual concentration of each volatile compound in headspace and EC50 value, we concluded that the four volatile compounds, including L-fenchone, 1,8-cineole, β-pinene, and camphene are the most important contributors to the volatile allelopathy of star anise.

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Leafminer attack induces plant-mediated facilitation of conspecific pupae in the soil

10.1101/2020.10.07.329763 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Rocío Escobar-Bravo ◽

Bernardus CJ Schimmel ◽

Peter GL Klinkhamer ◽

Matthias Erb

Keyword(s):

Solanum Lycopersicum ◽

Defense Responses ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Chemical Analyses ◽

Jasmonate Signaling ◽

Herbivore Interactions ◽

Root Volatiles ◽

Serpentine Leafminer ◽

Plant Herbivore ◽

Antagonistic Interactions

AbstractPlants and herbivores are engaged in intimate antagonistic interactions, with plants trying to mount effective defense responses and herbivores attempting to manipulate plants for their own benefit. Here we report on a new mechanism by which herbivores can facilitate their own development. We show that tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) leaf attack by the American serpentine leafminer Lyriomiza trifolii accelerates the development of conspecific pupae in the soil adjacent to the plant. This pattern was reversed in the jasmonate-signaling deficient tomato mutant def-1. Chemical analyses revealed that L. trifolii leaf attack changes the production of root volatiles in a def-1 dependent manner. Thus, leaf-feeding herbivores can interact with their soil-dwelling pupae, and jasmonates and root volatiles likely play relevant roles in this phenomenon. This study expands the repertoire of plant-herbivore interactions to herbivory-induced modulation of metamorphosis.

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