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Several studies revealed the important contribution of calcineurin B-like (CBLs) and CBL-interacting kinase (CIPKs) genes in transmitting stress signals in plants. Taking advantage from the genome sequences of the cultivated potato Solanum tuberosum and its wild relatives S. commersonii and S. chacoense, we identified for the first time 10 CBLs and 26 CIPKs genes in each species. The CBLs and CIPKs derived from tandem duplications indicate that these gene families in potato mainly arise through amplification mechanisms. Once annotated, we compared the par excellence model of Arabidopsis thaliana with S. commersonii, the potato model species for studying cold tolerance. We found that four ScCBL proteins (ScCBL1, ScCBL4a, ScCBL4b, and ScCBL9) started with a conserved N-myristoylation motif (MGXXXS/T), which might function in membrane targeting of the CBLs-CIPKs complex. Additionally, expression analyses of S. commersonii CBL and CIPK genes based on RNAseq revealed diverse expression patterns following various abiotic and biotic stresses and in the four tissues analyzed (flowers, leaf, roots, and tubers). Data also suggest that the ScCBLs-ScCIPKs complex may be more responsive to abiotic rather than biotic stimuli. Overall, the results described in the present work will be useful for future investigations and for functional characterization of individual CBLs and CIPKs in Solanum.

There is an urgent need for new sustainable solutions to support agriculture in facing current environmental challenges. In particular, intensification of productivity and food security needs require sustainable exploitation of natural resources and metabolites. Here, we bring the attention to the agronomic potential of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from leaves, as a natural and eco-friendly solution to defend plants from stresses and to enhance crop production. To date, application of VOCs is often limited to fight herbivores. Here we argue that potential applications of VOCs are much wider, as they can also protect from pathogens and environmental stresses. VOCs prime plant’s defense mechanisms for an enhanced resistance/tolerance to the upcoming stress, quench reactive oxygen species (ROS), have potent antimicrobial as well as allelopathic effects, and might be important in regulating plant growth, development, and senescence through interactions with plant hormones. Current limits and drawbacks that may hamper the use of VOCs in open field are analyzed, and solutions for a better exploitation of VOCs in future sustainable agriculture are envisioned.