Predictability of Biotic Stress Structures Plant Defence Evolution.
Daan Mertens1, Karina Boege2, André Kessler3
1Laboratory of Entomology, Wageningen University and Research, P.O. Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Trends in Ecology & Evolution
|January 20, 2021
Summary
Plants can predict and adapt to predictable stress patterns, like seasonal changes or linked herbivore and pathogen attacks. This allows them to optimize survival and reproduction in dynamic environments.
Area of Science:
- Plant biology
- Ecology
- Evolutionary biology
Background:
- Plants face numerous dynamic and often predictable environmental stressors.
- Stress predictability can be linked to seasonality or correlations between different stress types.
- Plants have physiological and ecological constraints in responding to stress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore how plants predict adverse conditions.
- To identify plant strategies that integrate predictable biotic stress.
- To understand the evolution of these stress-predicting strategies.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and synthesis of existing research on plant stress responses.
- Conceptual framework development for plant predictability integration.
- Discussion of evolutionary mechanisms driving adaptive strategies.
Main Results:
- Plants commonly optimize responses to predictable sequences or combinations of stressors, particularly herbivores and pathogens.
- The predictability of stress patterns is a crucial factor influencing plant adaptive strategies.
- Evolution favors plants that incorporate stress predictability into their life histories.
Conclusions:
- Plant strategies for mitigating stress are influenced by the predictability of stress patterns.
- Understanding stress predictability is key to comprehending plant adaptation in dynamic environments.
- Predictive strategies enhance plant ecological and reproductive success.
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