Emission of volatile compounds from Betulacea and Fagacea elicited during biotic and abiotic stresses

Abstract: Plants emit more than 100,000 chemical products but estimative total number of secondary metabolites exceeds 500,000 and at least 1700 of these are known to be volatile. The composition of secondary metabolites is species specific and is affected by external conditions. A vast array of volatile compounds – terpenes (mono- , homo-and sesquiterpenes), lipoxygenate pathway compounds, ethylene, nitric oxide, methanol, ethanol are involved in stress-dependent signalling within a single plant as well as communication between plants and between plants and insects. Currently, the relationships between the stress strength and amount of volatiles produced are non-quantitative. Furthermore, under natural conditions plants are exposed to a conjunction of two or more stress factors. One type of stress could weaken or enhance the effects of another stress factor. These types of investigation are very seldom done in the research community. The measurements of stress-dependent compound emissions need to quantitatively describe plant response dynamics and extent. The major aims of the present project are: To investigate the relationships between the strength of the stress and produced volatile signal. To determine synergic effect of cumulative abiotic and biotic stresses on volatile organic compounds emitted by plants. To ascertain the effects of biotic and abiotic stress applied cumulative or successive to the plants on emitted volatile secondary metabolites.

Objectives.

•     To investigate the relationships between the strength of the stress (abiotic and biotic) and produced volatile organic compounds
•     To determine synergic effect of cumulative abiotic stresses on volatile secondary metabolites.
•     To ascertain the effects of biotic and abiotic stress applied cumulative or successive to the plants on volatile organic compounds.