Doctor of Philosophy
Truong Thi Tu Trinh
Postdoctal Research Fellow, Department of Life Science, National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), Taiwan
Title:
Microbial Volatile Compounds Induce Stomatal Closure and Stress Tolerance: Highlighting 3-Methyl-1-Butanol as A Promising Biostimulant
Faculty of Technology, The University of Danang, Campus in Kontum, Quangngai, Vietnam
Abstract:
Microbial biostimulants represent a promising, sustainable approach for improving crop productivity and stress resilience in agriculture. Among these, microbial volatile compounds (mVCs) offer distinct advantages due to their non-contact mode of action and ease of application. In this study, we investigate 3-methyl-1-butanol (3MB), a volatile metabolite produced by diverse plant growth–promoting microbes, as a functional biostimulant capable of enhancing plant stress tolerance.
Using Arabidopsis thaliana as a model system, we demonstrate that short-term fumigation with low concentrations of 3MB induces stomatal closure and significantly improves tolerance to salt stress. Transcriptomic profiling revealed extensive transcriptional reprogramming in response to 3MB, including the upregulation of genes associated with ethylene (ET) and jasmonic acid (JA) signaling pathways. Metabolomic analyses further showed increased accumulation of JA and anthocyanins, suggesting activation of hormone-mediated defense responses and antioxidant capacity. Functional genetic analyses confirmed that 3MB-induced stomatal regulation and salt tolerance require intact ET and JA signaling, as these responses were abolished in ethyleneresponsive factor 4 (erf4) and jasmonate resistant1 (jar1-1) mutants. Mechanistically, 3MB activates a conserved signaling network involving reactive oxygen species, MAP kinase kinases, and hormone signaling components that are shared with responses elicited by complex microbial volatile blends.
Collectively, our findings identify 3MB as a potent microbial biostimulant that enhances plant stress resilience through coordinated activation of ET/JA signaling and secondary metabolite accumulation. The volatile, non-contact nature of 3MB highlights its potential for industrial-scale application as an eco-friendly biostimulant, offering a practical strategy for improving crop performance under adverse environmental conditions.
Biography of the presenting author
Truong Thi Tu Trinh completed her PhD. in 2024 in the Department of Life Science at National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan. She began her postdoctoral research in February 2025 in the same department, where her current work focuses on carbon capture and sequestration using microalgae, with an emphasis on sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions. She is a lecturer in the Faculty of Technology at the University of Danang, Campus in Kontum, Vietnam, where she has been engaged in teaching and academic research. Her broader research interests span plant physiology, microbial signaling, and climate-resilient and low-carbon biotechnologies.
To date, Dr. Truong Thi Tu Trinh has published five research articles in reputed international journals. Her research integrates fundamental life science with applied approaches to address global challenges in agriculture and environmental sustainability.
Presenting author details
Full name: Truong Thi Tu Trinh
Contact number:+886 909675517
Email: ttttrinh@kontum.udn.vn/z11310032@ncku.edu.tw
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ORCID:0000-0003-3603-8679