Question

VOCs stand for

• A. Volatile organic compounds
• B. Volatile olfactory compounds
• C. Visual olfactory compounds
• D. Volatile oily compounds

Hint:

The smell of freshly cut grass is actually a release of "Green Leaf Volatiles" (GLVs), which are a type of VOC. To the plant, it is a distress signal.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Communication between plants and insects often occurs through chemical signals.
These chemicals must be able to travel through the air to reach the insect's antennae.
Detailed Explanation:
VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compounds.
These are organic chemicals that have a high vapor pressure at ordinary room temperature.
In entomology, plants release a complex mixture of VOCs in response to herbivore attack.
These are known as Herbivore-Induced Plant Volatiles (HIPVs).
Functions of VOCs in nature include:
- Attracting Predators: A plant being eaten by a caterpillar might release VOCs that attract parasitoid wasps (nature's "911 call").
- Deterring Pests: Some VOCs act as repellents to other herbivores.
- Plant-to-Plant Communication: Neighboring plants sense the VOCs and "prime" their own chemical defenses before they are even attacked.
- Pheromones: Many insect pheromones are themselves VOCs, used for mating, aggregation, or signaling danger.
Common examples include terpenes, benzenoids, and nitrogen-containing compounds.

Step 2: Final Answer:
VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compounds.