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Abstract:
1. The attraction of natural enemies towards herbivore-induced plant volatiles is a well-documented phenomenon. However, the majority of published studies are
carried under optimal water and nutrient regimes and with just one herbivore. But
what happens when additional levels of ecological complexity are added? Does the
presence of a second herbivore, microorganisms, and abiotic stress interfere with
plant–natural enemy communication? or is communication stable enough to withstand
disruption by additional biotic and abiotic factors?
2. Investigating the effects of these additional levels of ecological complexity is key to
understanding the stability of tritrophic interactions in natural ecosystems and may
aid to forecast the impact of environmental disturbances on these, especially in
climate change scenarios, which are often associated with modifications in plant
and arthropod species distribution and increased levels of abiotic stress.
3. This review explores the literature on natural enemy attraction to herbivore-induced
volatiles when, besides herbivory, plants are challenged by additional biotic
and abiotic factors.
4. The aim of this review was to establish the impact of different biotic and abiotic
factors on plant–natural enemy communication and to highlight critical aspects to guide future research efforts.
