Sensory ecology of plants and pre-emptive acclimation

Light colour, direction, flux density; metabolites excreted or emitted by organisms; and other physical and chemical cues and signals in the environment are sources of information for plants. Plants have acquired through evolution the ability to use this information to adjust growth and development "in preparation" for future favourable (e.g. good nutrient or light availability) or detrimental events (e.g. drought or herbivory). A better understanding of the role of information in pre-emptive acclimation will provide new tools for crop management allowing improved food-supply security.