Plant-plant signalling, the shade-avoidance response and competition

Plants generate and perceive informational signals. An interaction (between plants) is considered to be informational when it involves the exchange of an insignificant amount of matter or energy, in quantitative terms, but in spite of this has a profound effect on plants by modulating their developmental programme. This article discusses how plants 'use' light signals to detect neighbouring plants and outlines the implications of shade-avoidance responses for the development of size and fitness hierarchies in canopies. The role of shade avoidance as a stabilizing force in monospecific canopies is noted.

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