From curse to blessing: sulfur-availability enhances forest resilience?

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Plant Biology
• Forest Ecology

Background:

• Sulfur is an essential macronutrient for plant immunity and stress responses.
• Declining atmospheric sulfur deposition due to pollution control may compromise tree defenses.
• The role of sulfur in forest ecosystems is poorly understood compared to agriculture.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the shifting role of sulfur in forests from pollutant to essential nutrient.
• To emphasize the need for targeted research on sulfur's impact on forest health and climate resilience.
• To explore sulfur-induced resistance as a strategy for managing forest stress.

Main Methods:

• This is an opinion article, synthesizing existing knowledge and outlining research needs.
• It reviews the known functions of sulfur in plant physiology.
• It discusses the implications of reduced sulfur deposition on forest ecosystems.

Main Results:

• Sulfur, despite its pollutant status, is crucial for plant defense mechanisms.
• Reduced sulfur deposition can lead to increased susceptibility to diseases and climate stress in trees.
• Current understanding of sulfur's role in forests is limited, with scarce field data.

Conclusions:

• Sulfur's role in forests is transitioning from a pollutant concern to a vital resource for resilience.
• Further interdisciplinary research is critical to understand and leverage sulfur for enhancing forest health.
• Investigating sulfur-induced resistance could offer novel approaches to mitigate forest stress under climate change.