Molecular defense strategy of volatile organic compound-emitting plants (order Piperales) against herbivorous mammals.

ABSTRACT: Plants have evolved diverse strategies to defend against herbivores, including structural barriers such as trichomes and tough leaves, the production of toxic secondary metabolites, the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and the recruitment of natural predators to deter herbivory. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying their ability to deter large herbivorous mammals remain poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate that the order Piperales, which is particularly rich in VOCs, employs a conserved chemical defense strategy targeting herbivorous mammals. Behavioral assays, transgenic models, and electrophysiological analyses revealed that VOCs from Piperales species, particularly Houttuynia cordata, activate TRPA1-a sensory ion channel critical for detecting irritants

SUBMITTER: Cai H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12770358 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature