Advances in studies on intraspecific and interspecific relationships mediated by plant volatiles

Plants release a variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to mediate intra- and inter-specific interactions with other organisms in the surrounding environment. VOCs are involved in attracting pollinators and seed dispersers, protecting plants from invasion by herbivores, pathogens and parasites and so on. The study of plant volatiles, especially herbivore-induced plant volatiles, has been a research hotspot in the fields of chemical ecology and plant protection for nearly three decades. In this paper, recent advances in the study of plant volatiles-mediated intra- and inter-species relationships are reviewed. We summarized the basic characteristics of plant volatiles and their ecological roles in regulating intra- and inter-species plants, plant-insect, plant-herbivore-natural enemy tritrophic interactions and plant-microbe interactions. We also analyzed the application and prospect of plant volatiles in agricultural production, summarized the unresolved issues in this field and discussed the issues for further research, so as to provide a theoretical basis for the application of plant volatiles in pest control.