Chinese Bulletin of Botany ›› 2009, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (02): 245-252.DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-3466.2009.02.015

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Research Advances in Volatile Signals Among Plants

Zhaojiang Zuo 1, 2, Rumin Zhang1, Yan Gao1, 2*   

  1. 1School of Forestry and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Forestry College, Lin’an 311300, China; 2College of Agronomy, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Huhhot 010019, China
  • Received:2008-05-08 Revised:2008-06-10 Online:2009-03-01 Published:2009-03-01
  • Contact: Yan Gao

Abstract:

Plant volatile signal is the language used in plant-plant communication and can be induced to be released by many biological and abiotic factors. Volatile signaling influences the seed germination and seedling growth of other plants in the community for non-parasitic plant. However, the volatile organic com-pounds (VOCs) from the host plant can induce seed germination and seedling growth of the parasitic plant. With the “hurt” message, VOCs can induce defense in neighboring homogeneous or heterogeneous plants, so they can reduce the hurt by direct or indirect defense. Plants communicate with others using a volatile signal, so their progenitive and defensive strategies can be realized successfully. To aid in helping the study of volatile signals, this review summarizes the kinds, inducing factors, transmission and functions of volatile signals among plants.

Key words: plant-plant communication, signal, volatile