Effect of Soil Nutrient on Production and Diversity of Volatile Terpenoids from Plants

Abstract

Terpenoid production (emission and storage) within foliage plays direct and indirect defensive and protective functions for the plant, mediates complex trophic relationships and controls the oxidation capacity of the atmosphere. Both biotic and abiotic conditions alter terpenoid production, with herbivory, light and temperature effects being reasonably well understood. In this manuscript, the state of the science about nutrient effect on terpenoid production is reviewed. The focus is on isoprene emissions and mono- and sesquiterpenoid emissions and concentrations according to fertilizing treatments and their potential interaction with other environmental factors. Ecological, physiological, biochemical and biophysical hypothesis formulated over research investigations are exposed and several points are highlighted as future research perspectives which could help to elucidate the apparent contrasting results.

Linking soil's volatilome to microbes and plant roots highlights the importance of microbes as emitters of belowground volatile signals

“…Indeed the relative proportion of available carbon to nitrogen (C:N) or to phosphorus (C:P), and the ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus (N:P) are known to impact plant biomass and metabolism (Elser et al, 2010;Güsewell, 2005;Huarancca Reyes et al, 2018;Zheng, 2009). This is further supported by the fact that fertilization treatments of soil have been documented to affect monoand sesquiterpenes emission in plants (Ormeño and Fernandez, 2012). Similarly, the uptake of soil's nutrients by plants was shown to influence the production of volatiles, as illustrated by the finding that phosphorus foliar concentrations negatively correlated to isoprene and monoterpenes emissions (Fernández-Martínez et al, 2018).…”

The Interplay Between Ozone and Urban Vegetation—BVOC Emissions, Ozone Deposition, and Tree Ecophysiology

“…Although direct studies are missing, it can be hypothesized that K and Mg deficiency, key elements of the photosynthetic system, cause similar effects (Lambers et al, 1998). P deficiency could eventually also lead to a decrease in energy-demanding BVOC production due to a shortage of P-rich ATP and NADPH (Ormeño and Fernandez, 2012). In contrast, increased BVOC emissions under warm temperatures, destabilizing the cell membrane and releasing GLVs, may be spurred under P deficiency (Siwko et al, 2007;Ormeño and Fernandez, 2012).…”

“…P deficiency could eventually also lead to a decrease in energy-demanding BVOC production due to a shortage of P-rich ATP and NADPH (Ormeño and Fernandez, 2012). In contrast, increased BVOC emissions under warm temperatures, destabilizing the cell membrane and releasing GLVs, may be spurred under P deficiency (Siwko et al, 2007;Ormeño and Fernandez, 2012). Only recently, nutrient deficiency has also found leading to a shift of the emitted BVOC composition; for example, from terpenoids toward GLV in nitrogen-limited Betula sp.…”

“…While it thus becomes increasingly clear that a shift in BVOC emissions via nutrient deficiency affects the formation and degradation of O 3 in the atmosphere, the contradictory results, i.e., either a positive or negative feedback of BVOC emissions due to malnutrition, may relate to reactions triggered on different timescales. Therefore, phenology and longterm allocation processes must be considered, combining the morphoanatomy of leaves with cell biochemistry and physiology (Lerdau et al, 1995(Lerdau et al, , 1997Ormeño and Fernandez, 2012).…”

Visual Symptoms of Water and Nitrogen Deficiency in Leaves of Clove Basil (Ocimum gratissimum L.)

“…Despite several studies dealing with the effect of water and nutrient stress on Ocimum gratissimum (Osuagwu, Edeoga & Osuagwu, 2010;Ormeño & Fernandez, 2012;Ade-Ademilua, Obi, & Craker, 2013), information about the influence of multiple and interactive stress factors commonly experienced by plants in the field is scarce. Moreover, there are no studies on the visual impact of water and nitrogen deficiency on Ocimum gratissimum leaves.…”