Leveraging air-borne VOC-mediated plant defense priming to optimize Integrated Pest Management

Plant defense priming involves the release of air-borne volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by plants, serving to prepare defense-related mechanisms against herbivores and pathogens in adjacent receiver plants. While the concept of VOC-mediated plant defense priming for enhancing plant resistance has garnered considerable attention in the last two decades, it has yet to be fully realized and applied in practical crop protection. This review summarizes current research, examining the spectrum of VOC-mediated plant defense priming in terms of anti-herbivore or anti-pathogen properties, the cost–benefit implications for plants, and the influence of abiotic factors on the priming. Additionally, we explore two promising approaches within the framework of Integrated Pest Management (IPM): the implementation of companion sentinel intercropping and the application of synthetic VOCs. In conclusion, we propose future research directions for this promising area, anticipating that this review will stimulate efforts aimed at harnessing the effects of plant defense priming for the development of innovative pest management strategies and optimized IPM programs in crop protection.