Communication between plants: induced resistance in wild tobacco plants following clipping of neighboring sagebrush
TL;DR
Plants can't hear, but they can smell. Wild tobacco eavesdrops on injured sagebrush's volatile signals and preemptively boosts its own defenses.
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First experimental demonstration that undamaged plants respond to volatile chemical cues from damaged neighbors by increasing their own defenses—establishing 'eavesdropping' as a mechanism in plant communication.
Key Findings from Karban et al. (2000)
- Wild tobacco near clipped sagebrush suffered significantly less herbivore damage
- Air contact was essential—blocking airflow prevented the protective effect
- Volatile cues effective within ~10-15 cm for interspecific communication
- Main conclusion has held up across 25+ years of subsequent research
- Young plants are better emitters and receivers than older plants