Overview on Different Biotic Interactions Involving Phytochemical Signals

Interactions between plants and biological environment involve symmetrical (co-evolving) processes in which plants emit attractive, repulsive or alarming secondary metabolites leading to sharing or antagonistic responses in receiving organisms (species). Such processes include repelling and poisoning of harmful organisms (pathogens, herbivores) versus detoxification or toxin sequestration from such enemies. Moreover, plants appeal for assistance by chemical attraction of enemies of enemies (attraction of predators or parasitoids of pathogens and herbivores). Also, plant development territories are chemically controlled via the allelopathy process involving relaease of allelochemicals against competing species. Associative and attractive interactions involve emissions of secondary metabolites (in air and soil) that are specifically recognized by partners of plants (e.g. pollinators symbionts). This book focuses on biological stresses including plant responses to pathogen and herbivore attacks.