Conifer Resistance to Insect Attack
There are several hypotheses regarding plant resistance to insect attack that involve the production and allocation of resources within the plant as they relate to the plant’s resistance mechanisms. The carbon: nutrient balance hypothesis correlates the production of plant secondary metabolites that are important in determining the relative resistance/susceptibility of the plant with the ratio of carbon to other nutrients within the plant (see Herms and Mattson 1992). The growth differentiation balance hypothesis also views changes in the production and maintenance of plant secondary metabolites as a trade off due to environmental constraints on growth and secondary metabolism, (i.e., differentiation) (see Herms and Mattson 1992). The growth differentiation balance hypothesis predicts that under moderate stress, plant growth will be limited, and the production of secondary metabolites such as those important in insect resistance will increase.
- Generalized Response Sequence : Conifer resistance to stem-invading insects has received much attention and involves a generalized, three-step sequence of wound cleansing, infection containment, and wound healing.
- Importance of Previsual Detection : Minimizing the elapsed time between when a tree becomes infested with an insect and when that infestation is detected can increase the treatment options available to forest managers.
Encyclopedia ID: p3304
