Plants release stress sounds under certain circumstances, according to recent research findings.
Plants, often considered silent and static, have been found to produce sounds under stress, according to a groundbreaking study by researchers at Tel Aviv University. These sounds, although inaudible to the human ear, can provide valuable insights for agriculture and irrigation, as well as offering a new window into understanding our green friends.
The sounds, described as popping noises, are believed to be caused by air bubbles forming and popping in the xylem, the tissue that transports water. Intriguingly, some insects such as moths can perceive these sounds, though they are beyond the range of human hearing.
The researchers developed an algorithm to identify the type of stress a plant is under and the plant species itself based on these sounds. This could potentially revolutionise agriculture, enabling farmers to identify which plants are in need of water more efficiently.
Mary Ellen Ellis, a gardening expert with over 20 years of experience and degrees in Chemistry and Biology, specialising in flowers, native plants, and herbs, has been following this development with interest.
The study focused on tomato and tobacco plants, with dehydrated tomato plants emitting 25 sounds per hour, while dehydrated tobacco made 11 sounds per hour. Cut tomato plants emitted approximately 25 sounds per hour, while cut tobacco plants made only 15 per hour.
The noises were recorded using ultrasonic microphones and were found to be in the 40 to 80 kHz range, beyond the range of human hearing. Despite this, the algorithm was able to correctly identify the plant and whether it was being cut or was dehydrated 70% of the time.
This discovery could open a new door into understanding our green friends and their behaviour. As Mary Ellen Ellis notes, "Plants are much more mysterious than most people realize, and they still have a lot to teach us."
For those interested in learning more about gardening, signing up for the platform newsletter offers access to gardening tips, videos, information, and a free copy of the e-book "How to Grow Delicious Tomatoes." This could be a fascinating step into the world of plant sounds and their potential to transform agriculture.
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