The Secret Life of Plants: How They Communicate with Each Other By Gopakumar Rajan

 

Image courtesy: CHUTTERSNAP/ Unsplash 

Plants are not only stationary beings, but they are also highly interactive with their environment. They are intelligence, and research has suggested that they can  communicate with each other in various ways. This communication among plants happens through different modes such as chemical, mechanical, and electrical signaling.

There is ample evidence that plants communicate with one another. One of the remarkable pieces of evidence was provided by Dr. Monica Gagliano and her colleagues in 2012. They demonstrated that pea plants can learn to associate a fan with good air current or wind. The experimental subjects grew in a chamber with two fans. One fan was windless, while the other provided mild wind. For some time, the researchers switched off the fan with the breeze and released a scent in its direction. After repeated scent-fan pairings, the researchers switched on the fan again. The plants immediately began to lean towards the fan that had provided wind, indicating they associated the smell with good things happening to them.

Plants can also communicate using chemical signals. They emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that serve as chemical signals to other plants. VOCs signal information regarding the type of predator attack, the presence of neighboring roots, and the level of nutrient concentration in the soil. Crucially, the plants communicate the health status of under-attack plants to nearby neighbors. A study on sagebrush plants found that the plant would emit VOCs after getting nibbled on by leafhoppers. This communication would prompt nearby plants to produce more bitter compounds in their foliage as a defensive mechanism against the leafhoppers. 

Plants also use electrical signals to send messages to neighboring plants. Studies conducted on corn, soybean, wheat, and other plants detected electrical signals being transmitted across long distances, demonstrating that plants have electrical communication systems. These signals can convey environmental changes such as low light levels and herbivore attacks.

The future of plant communication research is fascinating. Researchers are developing ways to identify specific VOCs that plants use to communicate with each other, allowing improved detection of plant infections or nutrient depletion. Furthermore, new technologies like acoustic microphones and visual sensors will help plant scientists detect mechanical movement in plants, such as leaves bending and plants swaying due to changes in airflow or nutrient availability. 

In conclusion, the idea that plants are capable of communicating with each other is no longer a myth. Studies continue to elucidate the mechanisms by which plants connect and interact, offering new insights into the fascinating world of these stationary but cunning beings. The research has the potential to revolutionize how we view plants and their relationship to their surroundings.

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