How Plants "Speak" to Each Other Using VOCs
Plants are often seen as silent and passive organisms, but they are actually capable of communicating with each other and with other living beings. One of the main ways that plants communicate is by using VOCs, which are chemical substances that can easily evaporate and travel through the air. Plants produce and release VOCs for various purposes, such as attracting pollinators, repelling herbivores, signaling stress, and coordinating responses with neighboring plants. In this article, we will explore some of the fascinating ways that plants use VOCs to "speak" to each other and to their environment.
VOCs as Alarm Signals
One of the most important functions of VOCs is to act as alarm signals when plants are under attack by insects, pathogens, or other threats. Plants release VOCs into the air to alert their neighbors to the danger, and the neighboring plants respond to these signals by preparing to defend themselves even before they are attacked. For example, within seconds, plants that detect VOCs will start making anti-fungal compounds or anti-insect toxins to protect themselves ¹. Plants can also detect the saliva of certain insects and send out VOCs to attract the predators or parasites of the insects trying to eat them ². This way, plants can recruit allies to help them fend off their enemies.
VOCs as Social Signals
Another function of VOCs is to act as social signals that allow plants to recognize and interact with their relatives, competitors, or mutualists. Plants can distinguish between their own kin and strangers by using VOCs, and they can adjust their behavior accordingly. For example, plants growing near their siblings will not increase root growth and may even intertwine around each other, while plants growing near unrelated plants will compete more aggressively for resources by increasing root growth and releasing chemicals that inhibit the growth of other plants ³. Plants can also use VOCs to communicate with beneficial fungi that live in their roots, called mycorrhizae. These fungi help plants absorb nutrients and water from the soil, and in exchange, plants provide them with sugars. Plants can modulate the amount of sugars they share with the fungi depending on the quality and quantity of the nutrients they receive from them, and they can use VOCs to signal their satisfaction or dissatisfaction .
VOCs as Information Signals
A third function of VOCs is to act as information signals that provide plants with useful data about their surroundings. Plants can use VOCs to sense the presence and identity of other plants, animals, or environmental factors, and to adjust their growth and development accordingly. For example, plants can use VOCs to detect the light conditions and the season, and to synchronize their flowering and fruiting times with other plants . Plants can also use VOCs to sense the quality and availability of nutrients in the soil, and to optimize their nutrient uptake and allocation . Plants can even use VOCs to learn from the experiences of other plants, and to adapt their behavior based on what they have learned. For instance, plants that have been exposed to VOCs from damaged plants can become more resistant to future attacks, and they can pass on this acquired resistance to their offspring .
Conclusion
Plants are not silent or passive, but rather active and communicative organisms that use VOCs as a sophisticated language to convey and receive information. VOCs enable plants to "speak" to each other and to their environment, and to coordinate their responses to various challenges and opportunities. By using VOCs, plants can enhance their survival, growth, and reproduction, and they can also influence the behavior and well-being of other living beings. VOCs are therefore a vital and fascinating aspect of plant life that deserves more attention and appreciation.
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