A recent research study has shown that secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) derived from plants can influence interactions between plants. This research was a collaborative effort involving chemical ecologists, plant ecophysiologists, and atmospheric physicists from the University of Eastern Finland.
A recent study published in Science indicates that plant-derived secondary organic aerosols (SOAs) may mediate interactions between plants. This research was a collaborative effort among chemical ecologists, plant ecophysiologists, and atmospheric physicists at the University of Eastern Finland.
It is well documented that when plants are damaged by herbivores, they release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. These VOCs are vital for plant interactions, allowing unharmed plants to sense distress signals from neighboring damaged plants and activate their defenses. “When reactive plant VOCs undergo oxidation, they form secondary organic aerosols (SOAs). We were curious if the ecological roles played by VOCs remain effective once they transform into SOAs,” explained Dr. Hao Yu, who was a PhD student at UEF and is now at the University of Bern.
The research revealed that Scots pine seedlings, when attacked by large pine weevils, emit VOCs that trigger defense mechanisms in nearby seedlings of the same species. Notably, the biological behavior remained effective even after the VOCs were transformed into SOAs. Findings suggested that the elements and quantities within SOAs likely influence their biological roles.
“A significant discovery of this study is that plants utilize slightly different defense strategies depending on whether they receive signals as VOCs or as SOAs; nonetheless, they show comparable levels of resistance to herbivore attacks,” stated Professor James Blande, head of the Environmental Ecology Research Group. This suggests that plants may have advanced sensing abilities that allow them to customize their defenses based on various chemical signals.
“Given the rate at which SOAs form from their precursor VOCs, their extended lifespan compared to VOCs, and their transport by atmospheric air masses, we anticipate that the effective ecological distance for interactions mediated by SOAs exceeds that of interactions influenced by VOCs,” noted Professor Annele Virtanen, leader of the Aerosol Physics Research Group. This could imply that plants are capable of sensing cues that signify nearby or distant threats from herbivores.
This study is poised to pave the way for a new and complex area of research for environmental ecologists and their partners, potentially leading to fresh insights into the chemical signals directing plant interactions.
