Environmental effects on constitutive and inducible resin defences of Pinus taeda

• DOI: 10.1046/j.1461-0248.2000.00163.x
• Publication Date: 2003-03-11T19:11:49Z
• Authors: M.J. Lombardero; M.P. Ayres; P.L. Lorio Jr; J.J. Ruel
• Keywords: Environmental stress

The ecological literature abounds with studies of environmental effects on plant antiherbivore defences. While various models have been proposed (e.g. stress, optimal allocation, growth‐differentiation balance), each has met mixed support. One possible explanation for the results is that constitutive and induced defences are differentially affected by conditions. In this study, oleoresin flow from Pinus tadea was least during periods rapid tree growth most when drought conditions limited growth; as expected if secondary metabolism a function carbohydrate pool size after maximised. Induced increases in resin flow, however, were greatest fastest growing trees season growth. Apparently, production becomes an allocation priority wounding but not before. Understanding requires physiological evolutionary account differences between metabolism.