Functional Plasticity of Crop Volatiles: Integrating Genetic Regulation and Ecological Application for Sustainable Crop-Pests Management

Plant volatile organic compounds (VOCs) act as multifunctional mediators of ecological communication, shaping plant interactions with herbivores, pollinators, natural enemies, and microbes. Recent research reveals that the same volatile or its regulatory gene can trigger contrasting outcomes across plant species, environments, and trophic levels─reflecting a remarkable degree of biochemical and ecological plasticity. This review synthesizes advances in understanding how transcriptional regulation, tissue-specific expression, and cross-talk among hormonal networks dynamically tune VOC biosynthesis and functions. We propose a unified framework linking molecular flexibility to ecological versatility, highlighting how context-dependent signaling can be harnessed for translational applications in pest management. By integrating mechanistic insight with applied perspectives, this synthesis redefines plant VOCs as adaptable ecological tools for the design of resilient, low-input cropping systems.