Jasmonate signalling in plants shapes plant–insect interaction ecology

• JA-signalling is primed by diverse factors and can be involved in the priming mechanism.
• Plants use complex signalling networks to integrate diverse environmental cues.
• Herbivores and their natural enemies interact via JA-mediated plant responses.
• Joints between JA-signalling and primary metabolism shape plant interactions.
• The impact of JA-signalling on ecosystems requires synergising interdisciplinary approaches.

The phytohormone jasmonic acid (JA) regulates the induction of direct and indirect defences against herbivores. By now, the biochemical pathway of JA-signalling has been well resolved, allowing the use of an interdisciplinary toolbox and spurring the mechanistic investigation of plant–insect interactions. Recent advances show that JA-mediated plant responses are involved in the competitive and trophic interactions between various organisms throughout at least four trophic levels and therefore likely shape natural communities. Moreover, JA-mediated responses can be primed or suppressed by various environmental factors that are related to herbivory or not. Yet, to integrate the complex interactions at the physiological and ecological levels into community ecology, an examination of the often onetime discoveries for general rules and new bioinformatic approaches are required.