2014 Volume 31 Issue 5 Pages 409-416
When exposed to herbivore-infested plant volatiles or volatiles from artificially damaged plants, intact plants enhance their defense against herbivores. This phenomenon is called plant-plant communication. Here, we outline studies on plant-plant communication from both ecological and plant physiological perspectives. Regarding the ecological perspective, we give an overview of studies showing that plant–plant communication affect direct and indirect defense levels of exposed plants, and herbivore performance on exposed plants. Cases of kin selection in plant–plant communications and intra-plant communication via airborne signals are also summarized. Regarding the plant physiological perspective, we give an overview of studies that showed specific responses of receiver plants to a volatile molecular species, to different configurations of a volatile molecular species and to blends of volatiles. Furthermore, we review the signaling pathways involved, priming, sensitivity, and how plants receive volatile compounds in plant–plant communications.
