Role of pathogen-induced volatiles in the Nicotiana tabacum-Golovinomyces cichoracearum interaction

► Differences in volatile compounds emission were detected in healthy and Golovinomyces cichoracearum-infected tobacco plants. ► The most significant emitted compounds were MeJA and (E)-2-hexenal. ► Treatment of tobacco plants with these compounds reduced severity of powdery mildew infection. ► Protection conferred by MeJA treatment was associated to LOX-defence pathway activation. ► Protection conferred by (E)-2-hexenal could be partly due to its antimicrobial activity.