Scientists: plants can "scream" from pain and stress

Researchers from Tel Aviv University (Israel) discoveredthat tomato and tobacco plants make a popping sound when stressed. It can be heard at a distance of about 90 centimeters, and scientists consider this the equivalent of human groans and cries of pain.

It was previously known that plants can produce ultrasonic vibrations, but new work shows that the sounds of at least two plants are transmitted through the air. Study co-author Yossi Yovel notesthat this gives us new opportunities to study plant communication.

The authors of the study recorded the sounds of tomato and tobacco plants in a soundproof room and in a conventional greenhouse. As part of the experiment, uncomfortable conditions were created for the plants: they did not water for several days, and the stems were cut off. In both cases, it was possible to fix clapping and clicking sounds. Undisturbed plants also made them, but much less often, while the affected ones made 30-50 sounds per hour.

Scientists believe that these sounds are caused by air bubbles in the vascular system of plants. It is not yet clear for what purpose they are published; it is assumed that this may be an attempt to communicate with other organisms.

This phenomenon was overlooked for so long because these sounds are outside the range that a person can perceive. But some other mammals, insects, and even plants may well recognize them.

A sound with a reduced frequency (so that it can be perceived by human hearing) can be heard Here.

In addition to tomatoes and tobacco, the researchers found that corn, wheat, grapes and cacti also make sounds, but their behavior has not yet been studied as closely.

Further study of this phenomenon will help to better care for the plants that humans cultivate. For example, it will be possible to create a system to send notifications when sounds indicate a problem with one of the plants in the greenhouse.