New research sheds light on the ability of plants to sense and respond to distress transmissions from their neighbors
Plants are adapted to many different difficulties and challenges, but until now the abilities of plants to utilize environmental information related to stress situations coming from neighboring plants were less well known. In a study conducted by Prof. Ariel Novoplansky's group from the Department of Desert Ecology after Matrani, at the Blaustein Institute for Desert Research at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, in collaboration with Dr. Omer Felik and others, the researchers exposed plants to different conditions, such as dryness or salt, and found Because shortly after exposure of plants to Aka, even their neighbors who were not exposed to Aka reacted as if they had been exposed to Aka themselves.
With the help of an experimental system that limited the possibility of contact between the plants in different ways, it was found that the distress signals are transmitted between the roots of neighboring plants. As in the children's game "Broken Telephone", shortly after receiving distress signals from their neighbors, plants not only react themselves but also transmit distress signals to other plants that continue and transmit distress signals to more distant plants that react in a similar way.
Preliminary results show that the reception of such preliminary distress signals increases the plants' ability to survive future stress conditions. The results demonstrate adaptations based on the ability of plants to communicate and transmit environmental information in ways that were previously known only in creatures with a central nervous system. The research findings were recently published in the scientific journal Plos One.
for the scientific article
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Is there a type of communication that is transmitted not only in stress situations?
The study confirms an assumption that is basically expected.
It is good that we did because science should be based on confirmations and not only on assumptions and the very conduct of the study shows that the researchers also expected this to happen.
This is evolutionarily expected because communication does not evolve for communication needs. It must begin with the fact that the plant emits certain substances under stress conditions - not to transmit something but as a by-product of its very defense against stress.
The first stage in the formation of communication is created when another plant "learns" to recognize the existence of those substances in the environment as a stress situation that must be defended against.
When this happens - the plant begins to defend itself against the attack every time it recognizes the substance in the environment and since the "notifying" substance is naturally secreted as part of the defense process - the information also spreads to other plants and God forbid.
Reminds me of the movie the happening
Ariel,
In a XNUMXD grid I assume you will see things similar to what happens in bacterial communication in biofilms or colonies. It will indeed be interesting. I hope we can discuss this sometime.
Amazing research!
Meanwhile we work in one dimension and try to identify the vector and the basic reactions. Later, we intend to examine responses of more details and on a wide two-dimensional grid... It is expected to be interesting and instructive regarding your question (R.H.).
I've already been told about Avatar and I should probably finally watch this movie...(sorry for the ignorance).
important message!
These days I am looking for new research students to join the above-mentioned project and others about whom I cannot publicly detail.
Ariel,
It is interesting. Have you tried to see the effect of the concentration of plants? As in quorum sensing in bacteria? Then it will be discovered that a field or a forest coordinates their actions together?
Ariel, thanks for the clarification and the follow-up research sounds very interesting
It's like in Avatar, isn't it?
thank you for your interest!
- Communication between plants has indeed been known for a long time. The new research shows for the first time that plants that are not in a strait not only respond to signals received from their neighbors that are in trouble but also release signals that cause other plants to respond. This (modest) contribution is completely new since so far no such "chain reactions" have been shown in plants.
- Research that continues these days shows that plants that receive such information undergo adaptation to stressful conditions, if such conditions prevail in the future. That is, there is the use of environmental information that comes from the neighbors and preparation for a probabilistic future situation with the help of learning and memory systems that do not depend on the existence of a nervous system...
I would be happy to add details about the study to those interested in applying in person: anovopla@bgu.ac.il
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I can already see in my mind's eye the movement that will arise after the vegan movement and demand that the human race use technology to produce food in a completely autotrophic way to spare the plants unnecessary suffering...
(Although it's a bit hard for me to believe that plants will ever be proven to have awareness at this level of feeling suffering)
A nice study that supports previous findings, but I did not understand from the information, does the study innovate something?
There have been studies since 1985 that have shown communication between plants and the transmission of stress signals through the roots and mycorrhizae, and it is also known about long-term communication in this way as well as by volatile substances.
There is no barrier = stress therefore barrier = stress
Chen (and vine) studies have shown for many years that after plants, not necessarily of the same species, receive distress signals from their neighbors, they begin to activate various defense mechanisms - for example, summoning wasps, nematodes or other insects to attack their enemies or creating toxic substances to prevent pests different to eat them
There is an article that explains the method of communication and claims that communication is (also) carried out by the roots.
https://www.dmt-nexus.me/doc/How_plants_communicate.pdf
Every Jew has known for a long time that as Shabbat approaches, something in the stomach begins to transmit signals of distress.
I did not understand if this communication takes place only between plants belonging to the same species or if it crosses borders. And Mel: the article states that one of the reactions to the signal indicating that the neighboring plant has been attacked by some organism can be the release of a chemical substance that invites the natural enemies of that attacker. extremely entertaining.
First; Amazing!
Second thing: why does it contribute? It's not like they can do anything about it.
What is a railing?
Studies have long been published
http://en.scientificcommons.org/1122239
that show how the plants "transmit information" through enzymes
Volatiles that are "sent" from damaged leaves and absorbed by the leaves of neighboring plants.
It is becoming more and more clear that there is branched communication in the plant world as well.