Conversion of airborne nerolidol to DMNT emission requires additional signals in Achyranthes bidentata

DMNT biosynthesis was proposed to proceed via (E)-nerolidol in plants a decade ago. However, (E)-nerolidol function as airborne signal/substrate for in-vivo biosynthesis of DMNT remains to be investigated and the regulation of DMNT production and emission is largely unknown. We address both of these aspects using Achyranthes bidentata model plant in conjunction with deuterium-labeled d5-(E)-nerolidol, headspace, GC-FID, and GC/MS-based absolute quantification approaches. We demonstrate that airborne (E)-nerolidol is specifically metabolized in-vivo into DMNT emission, but requires airborne VOC MeJA or predator herbivore as additional environmental signal. In addition, we provide new insight into the complex regulation underlying DMNT emission, and highlight the importance of studying multiple environmental factors on emission patterns of plant VOCs and their mechanistic regulation.