An air transfer experiment confirms the role of volatile cues in communication between plants

The American Naturalist
Richard KarbanSatomi Ishizaki

Abstract

Previous studies reported that sagebrush plants near experimentally clipped neighbors experienced less herbivory than did plants near unclipped neighbors. Blocking air flow with plastic bags made this effect undetectable. However, some scientists remained skeptical about the possibility of volatile communication between plants since the existence and identity of a cue that operates in nature have never been demonstrated. We conducted an air transfer experiment that collected air from the headspace of an experimentally clipped donor plant and delivered it to the headspace of an unclipped assay plant. We found that assay plants treated with air from clipped donors were less likely to be damaged by naturally occurring herbivores in a field experiment. This simple air transfer experiment fulfills the most critical of Koch's postulates and provides more definitive evidence for volatile communication between plants. It also provides an inexpensive experimental protocol that can be used to screen plants for interplant communication in the field.

Citations

Feb 15, 2013·Proceedings. Biological Sciences·Richard KarbanRichard Y Evans
May 26, 2012·PloS One·Monica GaglianoStefano Mancuso
Jul 28, 2012·Ecology and Evolution·Anastasia M WoodardTravis D Marsico
Aug 16, 2016·Journal of Chemical Ecology·Richard KarbanJames D Blande
May 23, 2013·Scientific Reports·Mohamed AliGen-ichiro Arimura
Jul 20, 2018·PLoS Genetics·Balint Z KacsohGiovanni Bosco
Oct 8, 2020·International Journal of Radiation Biology·Bruno F E MatarèseCarmel Mothersill

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