Functions of plant infochemicals in tritrophic interactions between plants, herbivores and carnivorous natural enemies

Abstract

Carnivorous natural enemies of herbivores such as predators and parasitoids use herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPV) when searching for their prey/hosts. This paper summarizes the specificity of (1) plant-carnivore interactions, (2) plant-plant interactions, (3) plant-herbivore interactions, (4) herbivore-herbivore interactions and (5) herbivore-carnivore interactions mediated by HIPV under both laboratory and field conditions. The biochemical and molecular mechanisms involved in the production of HIPV by plants, and chemical nature of elicitors are also reviewed. The prospect for application of HIPV in pest management is discussed.