Due to ongoing environmental changes and survival challenges, plants in nature must have a keen sense of perception. Not only do they have to compete with neighboring plants for light and resources, but they also have to defend against herbivores, insects, and pathogens. In order to survive and reproduce, plants have evolved a complex set of mechanisms to perceive their environment. Light, especially the ratio of red to far-red light (R:FR), is a key environmental signal for plants. In densely vegetated areas, the absorption and reflection of light by leaves leads to changes in the quality of light reaching the ground, especially the reduction of the ratio of red light to far-red light (R:FR). Plants perceive this change as the proximity of neighboring plants, indicating a potential shading threat. In addition to light signals, plants can sense and respond to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by herbivores and neighboring plants. When a plant is attacked by herbivores, these organic compounds are released, thus warning surrounding plants to take defensive measures. However, although we have some understanding of how plants respond to light signals or volatile signals individually, it is not clear how plants integrate these two different types of environmental signals.
近期，瑞士伯尔尼大学植物科学研究所的Matthias Erb团队在Plant Cell & Environment 在线发表了题为“Far‐red light increases maize volatile emissions in response to volatile cues from neighbouring plants”的文章，深入探讨了远红光如何调节玉米(Zea mays)对邻近植物释放的挥发性信号的感知和响应。 通过精心设计的实验和先进的技术手段，研究团队发现了远红光能够显著增强玉米对食草动物诱导的挥发性化合物的释放，从而揭示了植物信号整合的新机制。
First, the research team simulated the lighting conditions that might be encountered in the natural environment by adjusting the ratio of red light to far-red light. Then, treat the rice with herbivore-induced plant volatile compounds to mimic the herbivore attack (Figure 1A). In addition, the researchers used an automated high-throughput volatile screening platform and a Vocus PTR-TOF-MS system to determine the volatile compound emission patterns of maize under different lighting conditions in detail. The results showed that short-term far-red light supplementation significantly enhanced maize's response to these volatile signals, which was manifested by an increase in emissions of specific volatile compounds (Fig. 1b). The study also found that far-red light promotes the release of volatile compounds by increasing photosynthesis and stomatal conductance (Fig. 2, Fig. 3), as well as increasing methyl jasmonate levels. Finally, the analysis of phyB1phyB2 mutants revealed the key role of phyB-sensitive pigment B (phyB) in regulating volatile compound emissions, while the different effects of short-term and long-term exposure to far-red light suggest that plants may fine-tune their response to environmental signals by adjusting the activity of phyB.
Fig.1 Far-red light enhances the response of maize to herbivore-induced plant volatiles
Fig.2 Far red light increases stomatal conductance of maize
Fig.3 Far red light enhances photosynthesis in maize
The study revealed how far-red light significantly enhanced the response of corn to volatile organic compounds released by neighboring plants. The results showed that short-term far-red light supplementation increased the emission of volatile compounds in maize, especially the sensitivity to herbivore-induced signals. This phenomenon may be achieved by increasing photosynthetic efficiency and stomatal conductance, as well as by regulating methyl jasmonate levels. In addition, it has been found that photosensitin B plays a key role in regulating the emission of these volatile compounds. These results not only improve our understanding of how plants integrate light and volatile signals, but also provide new insights into the use of these mechanisms to improve crop resistance in agriculture.
Original link: https://doi.org/10.1111/pce.14995
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