If you liked this one, you might also enjoy reading about the mycorrhizal networks some plants can use to communicate between each other: http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20141111-plants-have-a-hidden...
Plants “panic” when it rains
31–40 of 92 posts
Re: Plants “panic” when it rains
#32It would have been nice to see what particular plants were used in this study. I somehow doubt that all plants react this way. Considering some plants grow under water, others such as sequoias are dependent on fog for their irrigation. Interesting article none the less.
The plants used in this study are Arabidopsis thaliana, which is a very commonly used model organism in plant biology.
I think it's not a particularly wild assumption that a lot of plants will react in this way. The MYC2 protein and jasmonic acid are important regulators of plant defenses so priming of defenses when it rains makes sense. There are pathogens (such as Pseudomonas syringae) that can trick a plant into opening its stomate, which are airholes on the leaves, as a means of gaining access to the interior of the leaf.
As the paper describes how the mechanical action of rain can wash pathogens around the leaf or onto other plants I think it's reasonable to think other plants would react like this.
The interplay between the jasmonic acid pathway and other plant hormone pathways is super interesting as plants, in general, have two ways of defending themselves. For pathogens that feed on dead tissue the name of the game is to keep the cells alive (jasmonic acid can be thought of as generally responsible for this sort of response), whereas for pathogens that feed on live tissue then the plant will kill of cells local to the infection site in order to deny the pathogen food (salicylic acid is largely responsible here).
Re: Plants “panic” when it rains
#33So, what defenses are triggered? Seems like this article is half written. Where's the cause and effect? What are these protective effects you mention?
Re: Plants “panic” when it rains
#34Earlier quoted context omitted.
Not all of us use your personal dictionary.
Are there times when "panic" is an appropriate response to something? I mean it is often an understandable response, but I have to agree that my understanding of the term is that is a response to being overwhelmed and responding haphazardly as a result. Is that an accurate description of what's happening? The actual article is a bit light to really understand. I wonder if it's the "chain reaction" across individual t…
>Are there times when "panic" is an appropriate response to something?
Yes. When something is panic inducing.
Note that the bad connotations of panic are for not panic worthy situations (e.g. don't panic when you just lost your wallet, etc).
But when chased by a predator, a panic response is a good, and evolutionary created, way, to get from 0-60 mph adrenaline and speed wise...
A gazelle doesn't sit still and weigh the situation calmly. It panics and starts to run for its life...
Re: Plants “panic” when it rains
#35The instruction to pour water straight into the pot, and not onto the plant, always struck me as odd. Maybe it’s one of those small ancient nuggets of knowledge that we struggle to justify but just work. Might be a big leap still, but reactions like the one from this paper could justify not spraying water all over my house plants.
Re: Plants “panic” when it rains
#36What is described in the article doesn't fit the definition of panic. I'm torn because maybe I wouldn't have read the article without the needless anthropomorphization. Plants are awesome and interesting to me because they're so planty and not animaly.
I agree. The word "panic" to me implies a certain mental state. Something plants lack.
...assuming panpsychism is not true.
Re: Plants “panic” when it rains
#37The instruction to pour water straight into the pot, and not onto the plant, always struck me as odd. Maybe it’s one of those small ancient nuggets of knowledge that we struggle to justify but just work. Might be a big leap still, but reactions like the one from this paper could justify not spraying water all over my house plants.
Tap water is often hard so pouring it on the plant leaves deposits behind.
Another justification is that when it's sunny water droplets on leaves act as lenses and might burn the leaves.
It is also known that wet leaves increase the chance of fungi, mildew, etc. taking hold on them. The article shows that plants are also well aware of that!
Re: Plants “panic” when it rains
#38Earlier quoted context omitted.
Not all of us use your personal dictionary.
Are there times when "panic" is an appropriate response to something? I mean it is often an understandable response, but I have to agree that my understanding of the term is that is a response to being overwhelmed and responding haphazardly as a result. Is that an accurate description of what's happening? The actual article is a bit light to really understand. I wonder if it's the "chain reaction" across individual t…
If panic was never appropriate, the ability to panic either would never have developed or disappeared in humans a long time ago.
Re: Plants “panic” when it rains
#39[deleted]
Re: Plants “panic” when it rains
#40Earlier quoted context omitted.
Not all of us use your personal dictionary.
Are there times when "panic" is an appropriate response to something? I mean it is often an understandable response, but I have to agree that my understanding of the term is that is a response to being overwhelmed and responding haphazardly as a result. Is that an accurate description of what's happening? The actual article is a bit light to really understand. I wonder if it's the "chain reaction" across individual t…
A fire. Its best to not casually stroll out of a building that is consumed in flames. A sense of urgency is helpful.