Growth and Defence in Plants

This volume gathers a timely understanding of resource allocation and its regulation in herbaceous and woody plant systems, linking molecular with biochemical and physiological process levels. 

Plants use resources, i.e. carbon, nutrients, water and energy, either for growth or to defend themselves from biotic and abiotic stresses. This volume provides a timely understanding of resource allocation and its regulation in plants, linking the molecular with biochemical and physiological-level processes. Ecological scenarios covered include competitors, pathogens, herbivores, mycorrhizae, soil microorganisms, carbon dioxide/ozone regimes, nitrogen and light availabilities. The validity of the “Growth-Differentiation Balance Hypothesis” is examined and novel theoretical concepts and approaches to modelling plant resource allocation are discussed. The results presented can be applied in plant breeding and engineering, as well as in resource-efficient stand management in agriculture and forestry.

The balance between resource sequestration and retention – a challenge in plant science.- Common links of molecular biology with biochemistry and physiology in plants under ozone and pathogen attack.- Host-parasite interactions and trade-offs between growth and defence related metabolism under changing environments.- Conifer Defense Against Insects and Fungal Pathogens.- The rhizosphere: molecular interactions between microorganisms and roots.- Stores as substrate sources of respiration – effects of nitrogen stress and day length.- Tracing carbon fluxes – resolving complexity using isotopes.- Solar radiation as a driver for growth and competition in forest stands.- Site conditions and tree-internal nutrient partitioning in mature European beech and Norway spruce at the Kranzberger Forst.- Plants and their ectomycorrhizosphere – cost and benefit of symbiotic soil organisms.- Case study „Kranzberger Forst“ – growth and defence in European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.).- Growth and space use in competitive interactions between juvenile trees.- Allometry of tree crown structure. Relevance for space occupation at the individual plant level and for self-thinning at the stand level.- Principles of growth partitioning between trees in forest stands under stress.- Mechanistic modelling of soil-plant-atmosphere systems.- Learning from various plants and scenarios – statistical modeling.- Modeling the defensive potential of plants.- Effects of stress and defence allocation on tree growth - simulation results at the individual and stand level.- Predictability of plant resource allocation – new theory needed?- Conclusions and Perspectives.