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Home 2. News and events 3. Conifer communication is complex and can be altered by air pollution Conifer communication is complex and can be altered by air pollution Conifers are dominant tree species in boreal forests, but they are susceptible to attack by bark beetles. 13.9.2022 * Environment and natural resources * Share on Facebook * Share on Twitter * Share on Linkedin A new study from the University of Eastern Finland shows that upon attack by bark-feeding weevils, conifers release substantial quantities of volatile organic compounds that provide important cues to neighbouring seedlings. It has long been known that when plants are damaged, they release odorous chemicals into the atmosphere. These chemicals represent an important medium through which plants communicate. "Whereas broadleaved plants have been frequently shown to respond to chemical odours, the same observations have not been seen in conifers. Therefore, we decided to look whether conifers undergo a similar response and were amazed at the results," Doctoral Researcher Hao Yu of the University of Eastern Finland says. The study showed that Scots pine seedlings damaged by bark-feeding weevils release vast quantities of volatile chemicals into the atmosphere. Undamaged plants exposed to these chemicals also start to release volatiles and prepare themselves to emit more if they are subsequently attacked by weevils. Importantly, those receiver plants also increased their stomatal conductance and net photosynthesis rate. "This observation is novel and has broad implications for further research investigating the mechanisms of how plants obtain information from their neighbours," says Professor James Blande, leader of an Academy of Finland funded project on conifer communication at the University of Eastern Finland. In addition, receiver plants had altered resin duct traits, and were subject to reduced amounts of damage by pine weevils. The team also investigated the responses of receiver plants under elevated ozone conditions, which represents the situation in more polluted regions. They found that the responses were significantly altered, but the final defence outcome was not affected. "The different responses of receiver plants made us think that the communication process was eliminated, but receiver plants still had more resistance to weevils," Yu points out. This research sheds new light on the dynamism of conifer communication and shows that the process can be substantially altered by air pollution. For further information, please contact: Doctoral Researcher Hao Yu, hao.yu@uef.fi, or Prof. James Blande, james.blande@uef.fi ttps://uefconnect.uef.fi/en/group/conifercom/ Research article: Yu H, Kivimaenpaa M, Blande JD. 2022 Volatile-mediated between-plant communication in Scots pine and the effects of elevated ozone. Proc. R. Soc. B 289: 20220963. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2022.0963 Pine weevil. Copyright: Jarmo Holopainen. A large pine weevil feeding on Scots pine. Copyright: Jarmo Holopainen. Profiilikuva: Hao Yu Hao Yu Nuorempi tutkija hao. yu @uef.fi Profiilikuva: James Blande James Blande Professori james. blande @uef.fi +358403553210 Keywords * Insects --------------------------------------------------------------------- Related content Manty-yokkonen. Climate change is pushing the pine beauty moth northward 50 years ahead of earlier predictions Changes in both the distribution and size of the pine beauty moth population are linked to higher temperatures, a new study from the University of Eastern Finland shows. The findings were reported in Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research. Read more Trees coved up with snow. Rhizosphere processes of Scots pine seedlings under growth conditions of future climate and shoot herbivory MSc Muhammad Usman Rasheed's thesis assesses the effects of warming, nitrogen addition, ozone and shoot herbivory on Scots pine seedlings based on two field experiments Read more Sienia. Kuva Mostphotos. Doctoral defence of Janne Koskinen, MSc, 2.9.2022: Fungus-arthropod food webs in boreal forests MSc Janne Koskinen studied in his thesis the fruiting of fungus and the structure of the fungus-arthropod food webs. 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