Peiyuan Zhu

This study shows poplar trees can distinguish between pathogenic, mutualistic, and saprotrophic fungi using airborne volatile organic compounds (VOCs), leading to specific root and leaf responses.

This study shows that fungal volatiles induce lifestyle-specific metabolic changes in poplar before physical contact, revealing a non-contact mechanism of plant-fungal communication.

The paper shows isoprene, a plant volatile, acts as a short-distance immune signal in field conditions, enhancing resistance in neighboring plants to bacterial pathogens.