ABSTRACT
The ubiquitous occurrence of volatile compounds (VCs) in ecosystems influences biological interactions among organisms. Many biogenic as well as anthropogenic sources are responsible for the emission of VCs. In 2014, the National Emissions Inventory reported that vegetation and soil emitted biogenic VCs, among all other sources, contributed around 70% in the US. Biogenic VCs are of immense value for the development of ecosystems. Volatile metabolites produced by the microbial and/or plant metabolism can be differentiated into inorganic and organic molecules. The emission of VCs from various plant parts, viz., leaves, flowers, and roots, is a constitutive process. Exposure of plants to abiotic as well as biotic stresses enhances this emission of VCs. The rate of release of VCs differs between community levels genotypes, with the age of the plant and season, and even from leaf to leaf.
