Scientists have already proven that plants respond to music, wind and touch.

Now, two researchers have used audio and chemical analysis to demonstrate how plants respond to vibrations generated by chewing insects..

The results of an interesting study, published in the journal Oecologia, can be useful in agriculture, and not only.

The study was conducted by Heidi Appel, Principal Scientist, Plant Science, and Rex Cocroft, Professor, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri (USA).

According to Dr. Appel, previous studies have shown that plants are able to perceive acoustic energy, including music.. This was the first evidence of a protective response of plants to environmental vibrations, which leads to changes in the metabolism of plant cells and helps to protect themselves from natural enemies..

Experiment with laser beams.

For their study, the scientists used the caterpillars of the small butterfly Pieris rapae and the flowering plant Arabidopsis thaliana, which belongs to the Brassicaceae family.. This plant is very often used by scientists as a model for biomedical research..

Scientists placed caterpillars on a plant and measured the vibrations they generated with a contact microphone.. But in this case, the microphone sensor was too heavy for the small leaves of the plant, so the team decided to switch to laser technology.. The laser beam recorded the sounds made by the caterpillars, minimizing contact with the leaves themselves..

The researchers could also output the received signal to the speakers, so the human ear can hear the strange noises that the chewing apparatus of small insects creates.. Then, in the second stage of the study, they let the plants “listen” to these sounds, playing them in absolute silence..

Plants produced more mustard oils against pests.

When plants from the main group " These substances help fight caterpillars.

Scientists have concluded that plants have developed a protective ability to distinguish between the vibrations produced by the chewing apparatus of dangerous pests.. The team now plans to study exactly how plants perceive vibrations, how they select important signals, and how they activate defense mechanisms in response to a danger signal..

Dr. Appel says that caterpillars crawl away when they feel a high concentration of protective chemicals, so these vibrations could be used in agriculture to stimulate the protective properties of crop plants..

medbe. en.