Beware When You Pluck a Plant Next Time, New Study Reveals They ‘Scream’ When They’re Distressed

It is easy to detect reactions by humans and certain animals, but when it comes to plants, it is a bit difficult. Plants are living beings, but it is hard to determine their emotions, like sadness or happiness. A 2023 study published in Cell shares in detail about one instance where plants supposedly 'scream.'

The study claims that while being harvested and in some other situations, certain plants emit sounds which are similar to screams, stated Indy100. Researchers found that, while under duress, some plants produce clicking noises. Human ears cannot hear these sounds without the use of special equipment.

The team conducted their examinations on tomato and tobacco plants, stated News4SA. This duress happens when these plants are in a stressful situation. For the study, these stressful situations include scenarios where the stems are being cut, such as harvesting, and when the plant undergoes dehydration for any reason. Researchers are yet to understand how plants produce these sounds. 

Researchers noted certain differences in the sounds produced by tomato and tobacco plants, according to The Hill. The sounds differed not only with respect to the plant producing it, but also in terms of the 'threat' that was triggering it. Even the severity of the threat affected the sound that was emitted by the plants.

The study claimed that the mean number of sounds produced by tobacco on dehydration was 11.0 ± 1.4 per hour, which was much lower than tomato. The same pattern was followed in the cutting scenario, where tobacco produced 15.2 ± 2.6 sounds per hour. Experts noted that tomato plants without water started emitting sounds on the second day of the exercise. Even though no major changes had happened in the subject's appearance. Researchers claimed that the sound was similar to popcorn popping. The popping reached its zenith after five days, and then began declining, as the dehydration became more severe. This implies that the sound was increasing and decreasing during severity.

The sound's volume was similar to that of human speech but outside their typical hearing range. Researchers believe these sounds, though inaudible to humans, could be detected by certain animals in the plant's habitat, who possibly use it to change their behavior, similar to how humans change their reaction with respect to the emotions displayed by an individual in front of them.

Researchers have determined that plants produce such sounds, but are still hesitant to claim that they are caused by pain, according to Business Insider. Claiming that these sounds are produced due to pain will imply that plants have feelings. Experts associated with the study do not want to conclude that, as they believe there is a possibility that the sounds are a consequence of a physical process. These plants could just be emitting them, because that's how their system is developed. Examinations on more subjects, along with more in-depth analysis, are needed to have a clear answer regarding this intriguing question.