The characteristics and environmental significance of BVOCs released by aquatic macrophytes

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) 2024-08, Vol.361, p.142574, Article 142574
• Main Authors: Peng, Qiutong, Yang, Yujing, Ou, Wenhui, Wei, Lifei, Li, Zhongqiang, Deng, Xuwei, Gao, Qiang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquatic macrophyte; Biogenic volatile organic compounds; Life form; Phylogenetic group; Taste and odor
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142574

Biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) emitted by plants serve crucial biological functions and potentially impact atmospheric environment and global carbon cycling. Despite their significance, BVOC emissions from aquatic macrophytes have been relatively understudied. In this study, for the first time we identified there were 68 major BVOCs released from 34 common aquatic macrophytes, and these compounds referred to alcohols, aldehydes, alkanes, alkenes, arenes, ethers, furans, ketones, phenol. For type of BVOC emissions from different life form and phylogenetic group of aquatic macrophytes, 34 of the 68 BVOCs from emergent and submerged macrophytes are classified into alkene and alcohol compounds, over 50% BVOCs from dicotyledon and monocotyledon belong to alcohol and arene compounds. Charophyte and pteridophyte emitted significantly fewer BVOCs than dicotyledon and monocotyledon, and each of them only released 12 BVOCs. These BVOCs may be of great importance for the growth and development of macrophytes, because many BVOCs, such as azulene, (E)-β-farnesene, and dimethyl sulfide are proved to play vital roles in plant growth, defense, and information transmission. Our results confirmed that both life form and phylogenetic group of aquatic macrophytes had significantly affected the BVOC emissions form macrophytes, and suggested that the intricate interplay of internal and external factors that shape BVOC emissions from aquatic macrophytes. Thus, further studies are urgently needed to investigate the influence factors and ecological function of BVOCs released by macrophytes within aquatic ecosystem. [Display omitted] •Aquatic macrophytes release a diverse array of odorous BVOCs in significant quantities.•The primary BVOCs released from aquatic plants include alcohols, alkenes, and other compounds.•Submerged and emergent macrophytes emit a greater variety of BVOCs compared to other life forms.•The higher the phylogenetic level of aquatic plants, the greater the variety of BVOCs released.