Due to their biochemical plasticity, plants produce a great variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), leading to the evolution of a complex signalling system in their ecosystem. In fact, plant-associated microbes and animals are able to modulate and decipher gaseous environmental cues during their ecological interactions. In addition, volatile byproducts may significantly affect parameters such as humidity and temperature. Some volatile molecules are signals or mediators of plant defences. Among them, several plant hormones (ethylene, salicylic acid and jasmonic acid derivatives) are crucial for the activation of defence responses, in some cases through the production and release of toxic or deterrent essential oils, alkaloids, terpenoids, sulfur- or cyanide-containing molecules. Other plant-derived volatile signals may result attractant or beneficial for insects and microbes, thus driving host-specific relationships, such as herbivory or symbiosis. Finally, third parties may recognize compounds originating from an existing interactions between plants and other ecological actors to modulate their activity. This review aims to summarize the main mechanisms underlying volatile signals-mediated interactions between species for the development of environmentally sustainable applications. To date, significant results have been achieved in the control of some pests and pathogens. This review explores the variety of plant gas emissions and of the ecological relations with microbes and insects mediated by such signals. Finally, some technologies are discussed, which make use of the specific plant emissions in agriculturally relevant applications.
Le piante, grazie alla loro grande plasticità biochimica, sono in grado di produrre un’ampia varietà di composti organici volatili (Volatile Organic Compounds, VOCs) con funzione di segnalazione e modulazione delle relazioni ecologiche. Simbionti, competitori, parassiti e patogeni sono in grado di percepire e decifrare questa complessa rete di segnali gassosi. La comprensione dei meccanismi alla base delle interazioni ecologiche mediate dai VOCs è già stata utilizzata per sviluppare alcuni metodi di coltivazione maggiormente efficaci e sostenibili rispetto ai trattamenti agrochimici standard. Questa dissertazione prende in esame il ruolo dei VOCs nelle dinamiche ecologiche che interessano le piante. Inoltre, sono riportati possibili ricadute pratiche dello studio dei VOCs in ambito agrario.
Composti volatili nelle interazioni ecologiche vegetali
CELLINI, ANTONIO;SPINELLI, FRANCESCO
2015
Abstract
Due to their biochemical plasticity, plants produce a great variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), leading to the evolution of a complex signalling system in their ecosystem. In fact, plant-associated microbes and animals are able to modulate and decipher gaseous environmental cues during their ecological interactions. In addition, volatile byproducts may significantly affect parameters such as humidity and temperature. Some volatile molecules are signals or mediators of plant defences. Among them, several plant hormones (ethylene, salicylic acid and jasmonic acid derivatives) are crucial for the activation of defence responses, in some cases through the production and release of toxic or deterrent essential oils, alkaloids, terpenoids, sulfur- or cyanide-containing molecules. Other plant-derived volatile signals may result attractant or beneficial for insects and microbes, thus driving host-specific relationships, such as herbivory or symbiosis. Finally, third parties may recognize compounds originating from an existing interactions between plants and other ecological actors to modulate their activity. This review aims to summarize the main mechanisms underlying volatile signals-mediated interactions between species for the development of environmentally sustainable applications. To date, significant results have been achieved in the control of some pests and pathogens. This review explores the variety of plant gas emissions and of the ecological relations with microbes and insects mediated by such signals. Finally, some technologies are discussed, which make use of the specific plant emissions in agriculturally relevant applications.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
