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Soil microbe-induced plant volatiles can alert neighboring plants for tolerating heavy metal stress

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Nov 02, 2024 version files 5.09 MB

Abstract

Induced volatiles can elicit defense or tolerance responses in neighboring receiver plants, a phenomenon referred to as the ‘alerting effect’. While the alerting effect of microbe-induced plant volatiles (MIPVs) to biotic stressors has been extensively studied, the function of MIPVs in relation to abiotic stressors has received less attention. Furthermore, whether changes in MIPVs can prime neighboring plants in preparation for subsequent heavy metal stress remains unclear. This study employs Phytolacca americana as study material to evaluate the impact of manganese (Mn) stress on the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and MIPVs. Additionally, we investigate whether the changes in MIPVs released by the emitter plants contribute to Mn tolerance in neighboring receiver plants. Our findings demonstrated that elevated levels of Mn stress significantly increased the total emissions and changed the compositions of MIPVs from plants cultivated in non-sterilized soil, in contrast to that of VOCs emitted by plants in sterilized soil. Moreover, MIPVs under high Mn stress conditions notably altered the hormonal profiles of the receiver plants, leading to a modification in their CSR strategies. Consequently, the receiver plants exhibited enhanced tolerance to subsequent Mn stress, as evidenced by improved growth performance, increased antioxidant enzyme activity, and reduced membrane damage. This study represents one of the initial efforts to elucidate the alerting effect of MIPVs induced by heavy metal stress on neighboring plants and its ecological implications.