Roles of (Z)-3-hexenol in plant-insect interactions

Green leaf C6-volatiles are among the most important herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs). They play important roles in mediating the behavior of herbivores and their natural enemies, and in triggering the plant-plant communication to prevent further attacks. Recently, wound-induced ubiquitous (Z)-3-hexenol, a C6-alcohol synthesized in the lipoxygenase/HPL pathway, was proved to be the most important info chemical for the herbivore repellence/attraction and natural enemy attraction in tritrophic interactions, as well as for the induction of gene expression in neighboring unattacked plants. In spite of the conflict functions of (Z)-3-hexenol in direct and indirect plant defenses, its positive roles in the indirect defense and the priming effect are consistent. Therefore, this compound can be used to develop novel insect pest control strategies.Key words: green leaf volatiles, (Z)-3-hexenol, direct defense, indirect defense, primingTo date, nearly 2000 volatile compounds have been identified in plant species from over 90 families.¹ These compounds are released from plant organs above or below the ground, and some are induced by biotic activities. Herbivore feeding stimulates the plants to release green leaf volatiles (GLVs), terpenoids, nitrogen-containing nitriles and oximes, methyl salicylate, etc. Production of these volatiles by plants involves at least three biosynthetic pathways: the fatty acid/lipoxygenase pathway for green leaf volatiles, the isoprenoid pathway for terpenoids, and the shikimic acid pathway for methyl salicylate.² Herbivore-damaged plants emit some of the most common GLVs and terpenoids that play important roles in mediating the behaviors of herbivores and their natural enemies, as well as in triggering the plant-plant communication.¹ Recently, functional studies on green leaf C6-volatiles have received wide attention and made exciting progresses. Especially, accumulating evidences on the C6-volatile (Z)-3-hexenol support its role in mediating indirect defense responses of plant.