Underground signals carried through common mycelial networks warn neighbouring plants of aphid attack
Aphid-attacked tomato plants transmitted chemical signals through mycorrhizal networks
This study demonstrated that mycorrhizal networks transmit not just resources but information - specifically, warning signals about pest attacks. When aphids attacked tomato plants, neighboring plants connected through fungal networks activated anti-aphid defenses preemptively, even without direct contact with aphids.
The finding transforms understanding of fungal networks from simple resource-sharing infrastructure to active communication systems. For organizations, this illustrates how shared infrastructure can enable rapid information propagation and coordinated responses - like security vulnerabilities spreading through open-source communities or market signals coordinating energy flows.
Key Findings from Babikova et al. (2013)
- Aphid-attacked tomato plants transmitted chemical signals through mycorrhizal networks
- Neighboring plants activated anti-aphid defenses before being attacked
- Signals propagated through fungal hyphae, not through air or soil water
- Unconnected control plants showed no defensive response