About this Research Topic
Plants employ complex signaling mechanisms in response to both herbivore and microbial attacks, which play a crucial role in their immunity. When attacked by herbivores, plants emit a mixture of herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) that attract natural enemies of the herbivores, enhance the plant's indirect defenses, or even signal neighboring plants to boost their immune responses. Similarly, in response to microbial invasion, plants release microbe-induced plant volatiles (MIPVs) that can attract beneficial microbes to suppress pathogens or trigger systemic resistance within the plant. The interplay between HIPVs, MIPVs, and other signaling compounds is pivotal in shaping plant ecological interactions, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and reducing dependency on synthetic pesticides. This holistic understanding of plant signaling provides valuable insights for integrated pest and disease management strategies, enhancing plant defense mechanisms while fostering ecological balance and sustainability in agricultural systems. Despite these promising findings, significant challenges remain in fully understanding and leveraging HIPVs for sustainable pest management. One key challenge is the complexity of HIPV mixtures that plants release, which can vary depending on the specific herbivores and environmental conditions involved. Identifying the specific volatile blends and their potential roles in plant-microbe-insect interactions is still a work-in-progress. Moreover, the mechanisms through which plants perceive and respond to these volatiles are not entirely elucidated. Understanding these mechanisms could allow us to harness HIPVs and MIPVs more effectively to boost plant immunity and decrease the current reliance on pesticides.
This research topic aims to assemble recent advancements in the interplay between HIPVs, MIPVs, and other signaling compounds and their implications for plant immunity and pest management. We seek to offer a platform for authors to share their findings on the identification and functional analysis, perception and responses, genetic and biochemical pathways of HIPVs and MIPVs, in addition to their potential in pest management under field conditions. We welcome submissions in the form of research articles, review articles, opinions, and perspectives.
To gather further insights into the complex interactions between HIPVs, MIPVs, and plant immunity, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Investigation of specific volatiles induced by herbivore and microbe attacks and their ecological roles in shaping multitrophic interactions.
- The molecular mechanisms underlying the synthesis and release of HIPVs and MIPVs.
- Insights from field and laboratory studies on plant-plant communication mediated by HIPVs and MIPVs signals.
- The role of MIPVs in plant-microbe interactions and their impact on plant health and disease suppression.
- Analytical methods for identifying and quantifying HIPVs and MIPVs from different plant species.
- Development of pest-resistant plant varieties through genetic engineering of volatile biosynthesis pathways.
- Applications of HIPVs and MIPVs in sustainable pest management practices and their integration into agricultural systems.
This research topic aims to assemble recent advancements in the interplay between HIPVs, MIPVs, and other signaling compounds and their implications for plant immunity and pest management. We seek to offer a platform for authors to share their findings on the identification and functional analysis, perception and responses, genetic and biochemical pathways of HIPVs and MIPVs, in addition to their potential in pest management under field conditions. We welcome submissions in the form of research articles, review articles, opinions, and perspectives.
To gather further insights into the complex interactions between HIPVs, MIPVs, and plant immunity, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Investigation of specific volatiles induced by herbivore and microbe attacks and their ecological roles in shaping multitrophic interactions.
- The molecular mechanisms underlying the synthesis and release of HIPVs and MIPVs.
- Insights from field and laboratory studies on plant-plant communication mediated by HIPVs and MIPVs signals.
- The role of MIPVs in plant-microbe interactions and their impact on plant health and disease suppression.
- Analytical methods for identifying and quantifying HIPVs and MIPVs from different plant species.
- Development of pest-resistant plant varieties through genetic engineering of volatile biosynthesis pathways.
- Applications of HIPVs and MIPVs in sustainable pest management practices and their integration into agricultural systems.
Keywords: herbivore plant volatiles, plant immunity, plant-disease
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
