Linalool-Plant ‘Scent Signals’ May Hold Key to Future Maize Resilience

Experts warn that global maize productivity could decline by up to 24% by the late 21st century under the SSP585 high-emissions scenario, which assumes continued heavy fossil fuel use. Such a drop poses serious risks to global food security, given maize’s central role in food, feed, and industry.

Discovery of Plant Communication

A recent study by researchers from Zhejiang University (China) in collaboration with partners from the Netherlands and Switzerland, published in Science (August 2025), has revealed a surprising natural defence mechanism in maize.
The study focused on linalool, a naturally occurring volatile compound with a floral, woody scent widely used in perfumes and soaps.

Linalool as a Warning Signal

Researchers found that when maize plants are attacked by insects, those in densely planted fields release more linalool. Neighboring plants detect the compound and activate their own defensive responses, strengthening the resilience of the entire crop stand.

Maize: From Ancient Grass to Global Staple

Maize (Zea mays) traces its origins to teosinte, a wild grass domesticated in Mesoamerica over 9,000 years ago. Indigenous farmers gradually transformed it from a small, hard-kernel plant into today’s high-yielding single-stalk crop.
Currently, maize is the world’s most widely grown grain, serving as:

• A staple food for millions
• A key source of animal feed
• A raw material for biofuel and industrial products

Implications

The discovery that maize can use airborne chemical signals like linalool to communicate and defend itself opens new pathways for sustainable crop protection. Scientists suggest this could be harnessed to reduce pesticide use and enhance climate resilience in future agriculture.

(Source: TH)