International Conference on “Mechanisms of Growth, Competition and Stress Defense in Plants”

Plants need to cope with competition for resources, both with neighbouring plants and, at the same time, within host-pathogen relationships as well as with mycorrhizae. In doing so, plants need to balance resource allocation between growth (to stay competitive) and pathogen defence, under the inherent influences of further metabolic demands as exerted by reserve storage, reproduction and interaction with soil micro-organisms.
A current frontier of research, therefore, is the examination and process-based clarification of whether stimulation of growth and competitiveness leads, as part of a trade-off, to constraints on defence of pathogens and/or other kinds of biotic or abiotic stress. This research question reflects the core of the “Growth-Differentiation-Balance Theory”, which still lacks mechanistic foundation in relation to present and future ecological contexts.
Such a research theme is pursued by SFB 607, located in the Munich area/Germany, which is an integrated research centre funded, since 1998, through “Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft” (DFG; www.sfb607.de), entitled: “Growth and Parasite Defence – Competition for Resources in Economic Plants from Agronomy and Forestry”. This basic research is of relevance both for economic and wild plants. The conference announced here is the 4th International Symposium of SFB 607, this time also open to international contributors to the outlined research field. What kind of contributions are expected ?
Basically, the trade-off to be elucidated mirrors the regulation of resource allocation between the capacities of resource sequestration and retention, representing the common basis of competitiveness and defence, and hence, individual plant fitness. Underlying molecular mechanisms at the gene level and (eco-)physiological processes need to be jointly analyzed through a scaling concept that not only extends to the stand level under given field scenarios, but also pursues ontogenetic development and integrates empirical and theoretical evidence (provided by modelling, biomathematical assessment).
Presentations are welcome which cover:
resource flux, its mechanisms and/or regulation within or between plants, either under competition, the demands of the mycorrhizosphere, and/or of parasites under scenarios of current or future ecological relevance.
Welcome are contributions also about resource flux modelling related to the research theme. Spatio-temporal scaling approaches are encouraged towards bridging between the molecular, organ and whole-plant towards the ecosystem level.
Please hold March 1-3, 2010, open in your agenda to join the conference. A call for papers and further informations will be released in soon – so please visit this homepage again.

Date: 01.03. - 03.03.2010

Place: Center of Life and Food Sciences Weihenstephan _{der Technischen Universitaet Muenchen}

Organizer: The integrative research center SFB 607