Scientists Identify Plants That 'Scream' in Stressful Situations 0 11

To reach this conclusion, an international team of researchers conducted experiments with tobacco and tomato plants. They divided the samples: one group was placed in a soundproof acoustic chamber, while the other was in a noisier greenhouse. Initially, the plants were left without water for several days, and then the stems were pruned. The results of the study were reported by LADBible.

As a result of the experiment, the scientists found that under conditions of water scarcity and after stem pruning, the plants experience stress. They communicate this to their surroundings by emitting 'screams.' These sounds are not quiet squeaks: during an hour, between 30 and 50 such sounds were recorded using installed sound recording equipment.

'Screams' are observed not only in tobacco and tomatoes but also in grapes, wheat, and cacti. Human hearing is unable to detect them, as the frequency of the sounds is too high.