Plant Plotting

We see a lot of plants when we are out. There are trees, flowers, cactus, and weeds. Personally I like them all. They just stay in one spot and add color to the sights I see. But wait... What is that inscrutable look on the face of that one over there? Could it be up to something? Turns out that it is planning ahead. That's right. It's plotting.


Biologists at Rice University have found that even as we are looking at plants sitting there being nice to look at, they are preparing themselves for a fight. They are getting ready to defend themselves against those pesky insects.

Rice biologists went to the genetic level in plants. The biologists say at that level the plants look like a fort going on full alert.

What they are talking about is the circadian rhythms of the plants. Up to a third of a plant's genes are activated by the circadian rhythm. Some of those genes are linked to wounding or healing responses. Much as a plant anticipates the rising of the sun, it also can anticipate an insect attack.

When the biologists mixed up the plants' day and night recognition they were more vulnerable to insects than were plants that operated on a normal day-night cycle.

Day is the time most insects like to feed on the plants. That is also the time that plants produce more of a hormone called jasmonate. Jasmonate regulates production of metabolites that interfere with the insect's digestion. Other chemicals are produced to prevent infections from bacteria on the plant.

Scientists are hoping that these discoveries will help us understand how to resist insects. Maybe we can finally get a good mosquito repellant.

Copas

Comments

  1. It's amazing how ingenious the plants of the planet are...but then again I suppose they have to be to survive...it would be nice to be able to learn enough from them to get good healthy options for repelling insects and rashes etc!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Natural repellants and medicines are the way to go. Thanks for stopping by.

      Delete
  2. Every Living thing is predisposed to life including defence system. So well evolved.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You said it very well. Thanks for stopping by.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Comments are good. Comments are fun.
You'll be glad if you leave us one.