Nature and ecological implications of pathogen-induced systemic resistance in conifers: A novel hypothesis

Coniferous trees are often dominant species in both boreal and temperate forests, wherein they play critical roles in ecosystem function. In natural environments, ecosystem stability appears to be the norm, notwithstanding the co-occurrence of insect and microbial species inherently capable of killing their host trees. Adaptive plasticity of host trees involving inducible mechanisms of resistance against invading organisms is likely to play a crucial role in these interactions. We hypothesize that systemic-induced resistance represents a common and important phenomenon in coniferous trees, allowing for a balanced allocation of resources between growth and defense.