Plant Volatile Stressometers: Real-Time Signals of Environmental Stress and Ecosystem Interactions

Plant physiological ecology has increasingly recognized volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as integral mediators of plant responses to environmental stimuli and stressors. Classically understood as byproducts or agents in plant communication, VOCs—including monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and other biogenic volatiles—have now emerged as dynamic, real-time indicators of plant adaptation to biotic and abiotic challenges. Ongoing research highlights how the quantity and spectrum of VOC emissions reflect complex interactions among genetic, environmental, and physiological factors. Despite notable advances in analytical techniques and remote monitoring, critical gaps remain in linking molecular mechanisms with ecosystem-scale consequences and integrating VOC profiles with broader plant stress signaling networks. Recent studies suggest VOCs substantially influence atmospheric chemistry and feedback loops in climate systems, yet foundational questions persist regarding their functional roles, spatiotemporal variability, and predictive utility in natural and managed ecosystems.This Research Topic aims to enhance our understanding of plant-emitted VOCs as "stressometers"—real-time molecular indicators of environmental stress and ecosystem health. Central objectives include unraveling the biosynthetic and regulatory pathways governing VOC emissions, elucidating the role of volatiles in plant-plant, plant-microbe, plant-insect, and plant-atmosphere interactions, and examining how these signals can be harnessed as diagnostic tools for crop and ecosystem management. We seek to foster interdisciplinary dialogue by integrating insights from molecular biology, physiology, analytical chemistry, remote sensing, and ecological modeling. Ultimately, the goal is to accelerate both fundamental discoveries and translational applications that position plant volatilomics at the forefront of global change biology and sustainable agriculture.The scope of this Research Topic encompasses mechanistic, methodological, and applied investigations into VOC-mediated stress responses in plants, with particular emphasis on linking molecular events to ecological outcomes and management solutions. While contributions may range from lab-based mechanistic studies to field-scale assessments and modeling, the focus remains on VOCs as indicators of plant and ecosystem health.To gather further insights in these areas, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Mechanisms and regulation of VOC biosynthesis and emission under diverse stress conditions• Innovations in VOC detection, quantification, and spatial-temporal mapping (multi-omics, remote sensing, field deployable sensors)• Modeling VOC emissions and their implications for atmospheric chemistry and climate feedbacks• Applications of volatile profiling in diagnostic monitoring, precision agriculture, and ecosystem assessment• Integrative studies connecting VOC data with physiological, transcriptomic, and phenomic networks• Real-world case studies of VOC emission shifts in response to environmental events, management interventions, or climate extremes Topic editors: Rujira Dolphen, Robin Joshi Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/74830/plant-volatile-stressometers-real-time-signals-of-environmental-stress-and-ecosystem-interactions