Plants are sessile, highly sensitive organisms that actively compete for
environmental resources both above and below the ground. They assess
their surroundings, estimate how much energy they need for particular
goals, and then realise the optimum variant. They take measures to
control certain environmental resources. They perceive themselves and
can distinguish between 'self' and 'non-self'. They process and evaluate
information and then modify their behaviour accordingly. These highly
diverse competences are made possible by parallel sign(alling)-mediated
communication processes within the plant body (intraorganismic), between
the same, related and different species (interorganismic), and between
plants and non-plant organisms (transorganismic). Intraorganismic
communication involves sign-mediated interactions within cells
(intracellular) and between cells (intercellular). This is crucial in
coordinating growth and development, shape and dynamics. Such
communication must function both on the local level and between widely
separated plant parts. This allows plants to coordinate appropriate
response behaviours in a differentiated manner, depending on their
current developmental status and physiological influences. Lastly, this
volume documents how plant ecosphere inhabitants communicate with each
other to coordinate their behavioural patterns, as well as the role of
viruses in these highly dynamic interactional networks.
