Defense Mechanisms of Woody Plants Against Fungi

Book excerpt: For the past decade, it has been apparent to both of us that a reference text covering all aspects of tree defense mechanisms to fungi was missing, needed and long overdue. Such a book would provide a clear, comprehensive overview of how living roots, stems and leaves respond to fungal pathogens. The need for such a book became in creasingly clear to us from our conversations with each other, as well as from our interactions with students and colleagues who desired a sourcebook containing reviews of morphological, biochemical and physiological aspects of host-parasite interactions in trees. During a field trip sponsored by the Forest Pathology Committee of the Ameri can Phytopathological Society, on a bus from one site to another, we decided to take the responsibility to prepare a book of this type and began to plan its composition. To adequately address the topic of this book as we had envisioned it, we believed that well-illustrated chapters were needed in order to reflect the important advances made by the many investigators who have examined the anatomical and physiological changes that occur when trees are attacked by fungi. We are grateful to Dr. Tore Timell, the Wood Science editor for Springer-Verlag, for supporting our efforts and for providing an avenue to publish such a profusely il lustrated volume.