Many flora are characterised by a variety of ways in which they communicate with each other and other wildlife. In a new publication in the Journal of Chemical Ecology, experts from the University of Illinois focused their attention on how tomatoes communicate with each other depending on environmental conditions. Thus, they revealed that they have different reactions to positive and negative external influences, as well as a specific response to multiple stimuli at the same time.
It is noted that tomatoes use so-called volatile organic compounds to interact with the environment, which are released as a response to various kinds of external stimuli. Their number can vary depending on what kind of impact is exerted, as well as from variety to variety.
Specifically, the scientists’ work looked at samples of four local varieties that were impacted by pest caterpillars and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, which enter into a symbiotic relationship with the plants and help extract nutrients from the soil in exchange for carbon. As part of the tests, plants were placed in odour-blocking bags for one hour and analysed to see which substances were subsequently produced.
