Plants and microbes swap chemical scents to help each other
Rizaludin MS, Dickschat JS, Raaijmakers JM, Garbeva P
Plant Signaling
The scent your tomato plants release when stressed isn't just a smell to us; it's actively recruiting helpful soil microbes that can protect the plant and boost its growth.
Plants constantly release scent chemicals into the air and soil, and this review explains how those scents do more than attract pollinators or repel pests. They also shape which microbes set up shop in and around the plant, and in turn those microbes release their own scents that can trigger the plant's growth and immune responses. It's a two-way chemical conversation that scientists are just starting to understand, and figuring it out could lead to new ways to grow healthier crops with fewer chemical inputs.
Key Findings
Plant volatile organic compounds (pVOCs) are both constitutively produced and stress-induced, and both types shape which microbes colonize the plant
Microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs) can influence plant growth and defense by modulating the plant's hormonal and metabolic pathways
The relationship is bidirectional: plants and microbes both send and receive volatile signals, though studying complex VOC blends in real-world conditions remains a major technical challenge
chevron_right Technical Summary
Plants and microbes 'talk' to each other using invisible scent chemicals: plants release volatiles that shape which microbes live around their roots and leaves, while microbes release their own scents that can boost plant growth and defense. Scientists think decoding this chemical chatter could help engineer healthier crops without relying on pesticides or fertilizers.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
Volatile dialogues between plants and microorganisms.
Covering: up to 2026Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are key mediators of long-distance communication in biological systems. While their roles in plant-insect interactions are well established, em...
open_in_new Read full abstractAbstract copyright held by the original publisher.
Was this useful?
Want to tell us more? (optional)
Thanks for the note!
Something went wrong — please try again.
Too many submissions. Try again in an hour.
Targeted knockout of a host peroxisomal peptidase confers field resistance to...
The corn in your grocery store and the staple food keeping millions of East African families fed is under serious threat from a viral disease that can wipe o...
Soil health is the capacity of soil to function as a living ecosystem, supporting complex interactions between microorganisms, soil fauna, and plant communities. For plant science, soil health is critical because these biological and chemical soil properties directly control nutrient availability,
arrow_forward Explore topic