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07-03-2014, 03:48 AM
Bad news for vegetarians! Plants can ‘hear’ themselves being eaten - and become defensive when attacked
Most people don't give a second thought when tucking into a plate of salad.
But perhaps we should be a bit more considerate when chomping on lettuce, as scientists have found that plants actually respond defensively to the sounds of themselves being eaten.
The researchers at the University of Missouri (MU) found that plants can identify sounds nearby, such as the sound of eating, and then react to the threats in their environment.
PLANTS CAN 'TALK' TOO...
Researchers in Bonn, Germany, found plants give off a gas when under 'attack'.
Super-sensitive microphones picked up a 'bubbling' sound from a healthy plant.
But this rose to a piercing screech when it was under threat.
Even a tiny insect bite could have an effect.
'The more a plant is subjected to stress, the louder the signal,' said Dr Frank Kühnemann.
Plants do not actually scream in pain. But different sounds are heard when the gas they emit, ethylene, is bombarded with lasers.
The research could help to work out which pieces of fruit and vegetables are likely to stay fresh longer, as a cucumber which is starting to go off produces a squealing sound.
It could then be separated from the fresher ones.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2677858/Bad-news-vegetarians-Plants-hear-eaten.html#ixzz36NEixC60
Most people don't give a second thought when tucking into a plate of salad.
But perhaps we should be a bit more considerate when chomping on lettuce, as scientists have found that plants actually respond defensively to the sounds of themselves being eaten.
The researchers at the University of Missouri (MU) found that plants can identify sounds nearby, such as the sound of eating, and then react to the threats in their environment.
PLANTS CAN 'TALK' TOO...
Researchers in Bonn, Germany, found plants give off a gas when under 'attack'.
Super-sensitive microphones picked up a 'bubbling' sound from a healthy plant.
But this rose to a piercing screech when it was under threat.
Even a tiny insect bite could have an effect.
'The more a plant is subjected to stress, the louder the signal,' said Dr Frank Kühnemann.
Plants do not actually scream in pain. But different sounds are heard when the gas they emit, ethylene, is bombarded with lasers.
The research could help to work out which pieces of fruit and vegetables are likely to stay fresh longer, as a cucumber which is starting to go off produces a squealing sound.
It could then be separated from the fresher ones.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2677858/Bad-news-vegetarians-Plants-hear-eaten.html#ixzz36NEixC60