Plants are Smart and Protect Their Own

[maggiethecat]

I remember Julia Child defending meat-eating by saying something like: "One day we'll find out that plants have feelings too and then what will we eat?"

Well, Saint Julia may have been right.

This story is so cool. When plants are stressed by bad weather conditions, they form their own aspirin gas to protect themselves. Even cooler: They put out gas to warn other plants when a predator is around. "Plants are known to emit chemicals to signal one another when they are close together, for instance, when being chomped on by insects."

I'm feeling guilty as I husk the corn. Sure, it's a Science story not a Food story, but it makes me respect my Swiss Chard all the more.

[Toliver]

I saw the same article and found it quite interesting.

I had read many years ago that tomato plants, when attacked by the familiar green horn(ed) worms, will emit a chemical to warn neighboring tomato plants that the enemy is at hand. This was the first I had heard about plants and their chemical "warfare".

I believe the tomato plants also put forth another chemical within that will eventually prevent the worm from gaining any sustenance as it eats the plant & fruit. The worm eventually "starves" to death while eating.

[sPOCK]Fascinating.[/sPOCK]