Integration of Bacterial Volatile Organic Compounds with Plant Health

The integration of a complex of pathways involving growth promotion and stress tolerance in response to bacterial volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is remarkable in enhancing plant health. VOCs are emitted from microbes associated with the plant. In this chapter, we focus on the mechanisms involving the array of structurally diverse VOCs that are active in maintaining a balance for the plant under abiotic and biotic stress. Certain VOCs boost plant growth, act as direct deterrents of pests, or are activators of systemic plant defense mechanisms. The responses to the VOCs involved in plant health engage many different trophic levels and advantageously can occur at distance from the original signal. Thus, VOC sensing has a holistic aspect for plant welfare.