According to the latest findings from a team of researchers led by Francesca Barbero at the University of Turin, plants are able to perceive the sounds made by pollinators and respond to them in highly specific ways.
In experiments presented at the 188th Meeting of the Acoustical Society of America and the 25th International Congress on Acoustics in New Orleans, researchers played recordings of bees buzzing near snapdragon plants (Antirrhinum). In response to the sounds of insects, the flowers increased their production of sugars and nectar and even changed the expression of the genes responsible for these processes. This means that plants are able to recognize the characteristic vibrations accompanying the presence of pollinators and immediately adjust their behavior.
The research team – an interdisciplinary group of biologists, plant physiologists, entomologists, and sound engineers from Italy, Spain, and Australia – points out that vibroacoustic signals may play an important role in the relationship between plants and insects. This is not only a fascinating example of co-evolution, but also a potential tool for supporting agricultural crops by attracting more efficient pollinators.
The ability of plants to respond to specific sounds may be a form of adaptive strategy, allowing them to better adapt to the presence of insects that bring them the greatest benefits. What’s more, research suggests that changes in nectar composition after “hearing” buzzing may increase the attractiveness of plants to these desirable pollinator species.
Although the exact mechanism by which plants detect sounds is yet unknown, it is believed that they may utilize mechanoreceptors—specialized cells sensitive to vibration and pressure. This suggests that, despite lacking a nervous system, plants demonstrate a remarkably sophisticated ability to perceive and respond to their environment.
This discovery opens up new perspectives in research on communication in ecosystems, as well as in the development of modern, non-invasive methods of supporting biodiversity and crop yields.
Source: Acoustic Society of America, The Guardian, dzienniknaukowy.pl
