Strange but true
March 30, 2023 | 9:07 p.m
Mom is the word.
Thirsty or stressed plants emit popping sounds imperceptible to the human ear, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Cell.
Tel Aviv University scientists used special microphones to record ultrasonic sounds produced by tomato and tobacco plants in a soundproof box and greenhouse.
The researchers say they developed machine learning models to identify the condition of the plants, including whether they were dehydrated or sick, based on the sounds they detected.
“We know from previous studies that vibrometers attached to plants record vibrations. But do these vibrations also become airborne sound waves – i.e. noises that can be picked up from afar? Our study addressed this question that researchers have debated for many years,” study co-author Lilach Hadany said in a statement.
“Apparently, an idyllic flower meadow can be a pretty noisy place. It’s just that we can’t hear the sounds,” quipped Lilach Hadany, co-author of the study. Getty Images/iStockphoto
The researchers said they placed the plants in a box in a basement with no background noise and placed ultrasonic microphones about 10 centimeters from each specimen.
Tomato and tobacco plants took center stage, but wheat, corn, cacti and henbit were also examined.
“Before we placed the plants in the acoustic box, we subjected them to various treatments: some plants were not watered for five days, some had the stem cut off and some were untouched,” said Hadany.
“We wanted to test whether the plants make noises and whether these noises are influenced in any way by the condition of the plant. Our recordings showed that the plants in our experiment emitted sounds with frequencies of 40-80 kilohertz.”
The maximum frequency measured by an adult human is about 16 kilohertz.
Researchers found that unstressed plants typically emitted less than one sound per hour, while dehydrated and injured plants produced dozens of sounds every hour.
Systems were tested in an “acoustically isolated box” in a basement with no background noise. cell
The team found that the clicks could be detected even when the plants were in a noisy greenhouse.
“We assume that in nature, the sounds emitted by plants are perceived by nearby creatures such as bats, rodents, various insects and possibly other plants – who can hear the high frequencies and derive relevant information,” Hadany said.
“We believe that with the right tools, people can also use this information — like sensors that tell growers when plants need to be watered.”
Hadany quipped, “Apparently, an idyllic flower meadow can be a pretty noisy place. It’s just that we can’t hear the sounds.”
The plants, mainly tomatoes and tobacco, were recorded in the cut and dehydrated state
Scientists not involved in the new research warn that there is no evidence that sounds made by plants are a form of communication.
“This result complements what we know about how plants respond to stress. It’s a useful contribution to this field and to our general appreciation that plants are responsive organisms capable of sophisticated behaviors,” Richard Karban, a professor who studies the interactions between herbivores and their host plants, told CNN.
“However, it should not be interpreted to mean that plants actively communicate by making sounds,” added Karban.
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