Methyl Benzoate Acts as a Dusk-Associated Airborne Cue Activating NPR1-Dependent Defence Signalling.

Methyl benzoate (MB) is identified as a previously unrecognized dusk-emitted airborne volatile defense signal that activates NPR1-dependent defense signaling.

• Why it matters: Plants need airborne communication cues to coordinate defense, but the specific volatile signals acting at dusk and their signaling dependencies remain unclear.
• What they did: The study characterizes MB as a volatile defense signal distinct from methyl salicylate and tests its ability to activate NPR1-dependent defense signaling.
• The result: MB expands the repertoire of airborne plant defense signals and links dusk-associated volatile cues to NPR1-dependent defense signaling pathways.

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