Differential responses of BVOC emissions in Pinus massoniana to drought stress and rehydration: Implications for climate change and air quality

Drought has been demonstrated to exert a substantial influence on the growth of plants and the chemical emissions thereof. The present study aims to examine the alterations in biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emissions and chemical compounds in Pinus massoniana seedlings under the conditions of drought stress and subsequent rehydration. The findings revealed that drought stress and rehydration significantly altered the emission of total BVOCs, monoterpenes, and sesquiterpenes, with isoprene emission showing only a marginal decrease. Under conditions of drought stress, the emission of total BVOCs, monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes increased significantly, while the emission of isoprene decreased slightly. Following rehydration, the discharge of each chemical compound essentially recovered to the level prior to drought stress. Given the inconsistent response of different plant BVOCs to drought stress, it is imperative to closely monitor the effects of drought stress and global change on plant BVOC emissions in future research.