Root volatiles in plant-plant interactions I: High root sesquiterpene release is associated with increased germination and growth of plant neighbours.

ABSTRACT: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by plant leaves can influence the physiology of neighbouring plants. In contrast to leaf VOCs, little is known about the role of root VOCs in plant-plant interactions. Here, we characterize constitutive root VOC emissions of the spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe) and explore the impact of these VOCs on the germination and growth of different sympatric plant species. We show that C. stoebe roots emit high amounts of sesquiterpenes, with estimated release rates of (E)-β-caryophyllene above 3 μg g^-1  dw hr^-1 . Sesquiterpene emissions show little variation between different C. stoebe populations but vary substantially between different Centaurea species. Through root transcriptome sequencing, we identify six root-expressed sesqui

SUBMITTER: Gfeller V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6850102 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature