Plants "speak" in ultrasonic clicks: New study reveals they communicate stress

A research article published in the scientific journal, "Cell," could revolutionize how we perceive plants. The authors found that when under stress, plants do not only alter their shape, smell, or color but also emit sounds. These are noises that can be heard from certain distances, which can be recorded and classified. This discovery was made during studies of tomatoes and tobacco.

The plants were placed in an acoustic chamber and a greenhouse for the study. Special devices were used to monitor the ultrasonics emitted by the plants and their physiological parameters. The results showed that the sounds resemble the noises of cracking or clicking and can be detected from a distance of 10 to 16 feet. However, their frequency is too high for humans to hear.

In the subsequent stage of research, the scientists utilized machine learning models that successfully determined the state and species of plants based solely on ultrasonic emissions. This enabled them to discern which plants were dried or cut, and which were part of the control group. The researchers then validated their findings by investigating other plant species, including corn, wheat, cacti, and grapevines.

The researchers indicated that stressed plants are "louder" than those not undergoing any changes. Science Alert reports that the plants "emit an average of about 40 clicks per hour, depending on the species." The authors suggest that their research and its conclusions offer new avenues in understanding plants and their interactions with their surroundings. These discoveries could potentially benefit future agricultural practices.

However, there are still numerous mysteries to be solved. It remains uncertain how plants produce these sounds, whether there are other factors, apart from water scarcity and cutting, that can affect their emissions, and what organisms can actually perceive them. Currently, experts are examining the reactions of other organisms to plant sounds and are investigating their identification and interpretation within a natural environment.