Volatiles of Pathogenic and Non-Pathogenic Soil-Borne Fungi Affect Plant Development and Resistance to Insects

This research investigated how plants respond to chemical signals (volatiles) released by beneficial and harmful soil fungi. The study found that plants respond similarly to these signals regardless of whether they come from friend or foe. When exposed to fungal volatiles, plants generally grew larger and flowered earlier, but sometimes became more vulnerable to insect damage. This has important implications for understanding plant responses to their microbial environment. Impacts on everyday life: – Provides insights for developing natural plant growth promotion methods in agriculture – Helps explain how plants interact with beneficial and harmful microbes in garden soil – Could lead to new approaches for protecting crops from pests and diseases – Demonstrates the importance of soil microorganisms for plant health and development – May contribute to more sustainable farming practices by harnessing natural plant-microbe interactions