Regulation of volatile biosynthesis in plants

Plants synthesize and emit a diversity of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a class of specialized metabolites that function as airborne signals in chemical communication. VOCs act as both long-distance and internal cues. As such, VOC biosynthesis must be tightly regulated to ensure an appropriate response. This review focuses on the genetic regulation of VOC biosynthesis, summarizing transcriptional regulation mediated by transcription factors and promoter architecture, as well as post-transcriptional regulatory processes. We further explore higher-order regulatory mechanisms, including chromatin organization and epigenetic modifications, and discuss the influence of the three-dimensional genome architecture on long-range transcriptional regulation mediated by enhancers. Lastly, recent advances in the regulation of rose floral scent biosynthesis are highlighted as a case study to illustrate how these mechanisms converge to exert fine-tuning of scent production.