In addition to advancements in pesticide delivery, biological innovations can replace pesticides altogether, like harnessing plant communication. Although plants don’t look like they have much to say, they actually communicate with each other using airborne molecules called volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs can be released to attract pollinators or deter hungry animals, and they can be interpreted by entirely different plant species. 

This can open the door to alternatives to industrial pesticides, which can damage the environment, as VOCs can be used to initiate plant responses to pests before they become a problem. Plants that absorb VOCs can respond with hydrocarbons that control gene expression by interacting with chromatin, a structure composed of DNA and proteins, influencing the production of molecules involved in systems like defense.

In addition to pesticidal activity, VOCs can be used for other advantages. The most common VOCs are isoprenoids, which are released in response to abiotic stresses. Isoprenoids suppress reactive oxygen species activity, reinforcing cell membrane structure, which is valuable for plant survival.

VOCs can also fight plant pathogens, or even discourage the growth of competing plant species, including germination and root growth, which could be used as a replacement to herbicides. VOCs are currently employed by using plants that emit VOCs around crops, such as mint, which emits various helpful VOCs, but also releases biostimulants, which can improve growth and endurance. Some farms use the “push-pull” strategy, where plants emitting VOCs repulsive to herbivores are mixed with the crop of interest, surrounded by other plants emitting attractive VOCs. VOCs are biodegradable, which is great for the environment, but means that VOCs become ineffective over time. Beyond natural means, further development will likely result in plants modified to release more VOCs, though studies have shown the production of VOCs to be highly metabolically taxing to an extent that can surpass the benefits the VOCs offer. If that challenge cannot be navigated, VOCs might be used as a commercial product, though further research is warranted in proper dosage and dispersal methods, as some plants getting more VOCs than others might result in adverse effects.

I think it is important to address the issues that pesticides pose to our environment and health, but not without proposing solutions. Complaining about perceived issues is not productive if you don’t have a better idea, and expecting farmers to just stop using pesticides is both unrealistic and wasteful, especially considering how problematic food waste is already. I believe that GMOs engineered for pest resistance are a good alternative to pesticide application, but I am always excited to hear about the other options that science offers, especially if it means we stumble across something even better.

I made a poster about featuring modern developments in plant science, for a project in my Botany class, which touched on this topic and others I’d researched for this site. Most, if not all, of my peers chose to pick local plants and press them into books for their projects, which sounds fun, but I wanted to share some of what I’ve learned through my research with others studying this area. We don’t talk about science casually enough, and I hope that this poster can get others excited about the boundless potential of plant biotechnology! I also can’t wait to learn more about other developments, in this field, so stay tuned to learn with me!

pesticidal activity: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/10/241024131702.htm