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In groundbreaking discovery, researchers found female moths avoid plants that emit distressing sounds for egg-laying

In a new experiment, researchers noted that when two plants looked alike, moths preferred the specimen with no distressing sounds for egg-laying.

BY SOMDATTA MAITY

PUBLISHED 5 HOURS AGO

Growing and ripening of red cherry tomatoes in the garden, organic farming, red and green small tomatoes, ripeness. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Katarina Molnarova)

Plants are living beings and can supposedly react the same way as humans can. However, their reactions are yet to be wholly understood by researchers. A new study published in the journal eLife claims that even if humans do not understand the sounds produced by the green pals, other creatures do understand them, and even take calls based on them. A team from Tel Aviv University has found evidence suggesting that female moths do not lay eggs on tomato plants when they think the latter are making noises indicating distress. It is not the first time experts have observed such sounds. In the past, they have noted sounds coming from plants, which could be equated to a "scream."

Tomato plants (Representative Image Source: Wikimedia Commons | Photo by Jonathan Billinger)

The choice of moth

The examination's objective was to understand how female moths reacted to plants showing signs of distress, as they choose the best site to lay their eggs. For them, the 'best site' is supposedly the one on which their larvae can feed and get the appropriate nutrition, according to the BBC. In a controlled experiment, experts witnessed that when a plant signaled it was dehydrated or under some stress, the Egyptian cotton leafworm (Spodoptera littoralis; Noctuidae)—a polyphagous herbivore, promptly avoided the place.

In the experiments, researchers also tried to understand whether the leafworm was reacting to the plant's appearance or sound. For this, they presented the moth with two tomato plants: one healthy and silent, and another that appeared healthy but was emitting recorded distressing sounds, according to the New York Times. The moth chose the healthy and silent plant for egg-laying. It implied that it decided based on the sounds and not the appearance.

The setup and results. (Image Source: eLife)

How does the plant communicate?

Researchers have clarified that plants are not sentient. It implies that the examination does not prove that the plants can feel anything or have consciousness. Then, where are these sounds coming from? Experts claim that plants produce these sounds in response to changes in their local conditions. The study describes these sounds as a series of ultrasonic sounds not perceivable by humans under normal conditions.

Professor Lilach Hadany from Tel Aviv University, who has also previously worked on examining these sounds, claimed that the finding indicates that plants and beings, like moths, have possibly co-evolved to produce and perceive such sounds for mutual benefits. In this way, the plant avoids extra load during weak moments, while the creatures are also not investing in a weak resource. The interaction could mean a hidden ecosystem involving these creatures that experts have no idea about.

Plant of tomatoes (Representative Image Source: Wikimedia Commons | Photo by Komavo)

Future of the study

In the past, experts have proven that these sounds could be perceived by some mammals, bats, and insects. However, it is the first time an investigation has showcased that creatures make decisions based on these clicks. Researchers are now looking forward to understanding if there are other sounds that plants make, and if more species monitor their decision, like whether to pollinate them or not, in accordance with it. Another key aspect that the experts want to understand is whether plants communicate with each other using sounds and make further decisions.