Experiment (3) – Imagining Broad Connectivities | Keith Armstrong 2024

FURTHER NOTES Please note that following text was derived from CoPilot AI (18/4/24)Electrical Signals and Chemical Movement
- Unlike animals with nervous systems, plants communicate through a network of roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruit. Instead of nerves, they use a system more akin to plumbing.
  - Electrical signals travel through the movement of chemicals within these tubes. For instance:
    - Roots detect changes in soil conditions (nutrients, water, and predators) and communicate with other parts of the plant.
    - Leaves sense predators or variations in light and sound.
  - Researchers can observe this electrical communication by placing electrodes at different points on a plant. Instruments have even been developed to translate these electric charges into audible sounds.
  - When a plant is wounded, electrical signals emanate from the wound site. Remarkably, plants can transmit these electric signals to neighboring individuals if they are in physical contact.
Chemical Signaling:
- Chemicals, including hormones, play a crucial role in plant communication.
- For instance, a hormone called auxin is produced at the top of a plant and travels downward. It guides sprouts trying to break through the soil’s surface, indicating which way is up.
- When plants are touched or stressed, they release specific chemicals into the soil. These stress-related compounds affect neighboring plants, helping them prevent overcrowding by signaling when they’re getting too close for comfort.
Ultrasonic Sounds and VOCs:
- Recent research has revealed that many plant species emit ultrasonic sounds to communicate stress.
- Additionally, undamaged plants respond to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by neighboring plants experiencing mechanical damage or insect attacks.
- These intricate chemical interactions allow plants to “talk” with everything from predators to pollinators.