It goes on thorns, thorns or poisons, but the more subtle method. It would seem as fixed, armless, silent plants can defend themselves? They do not have teeth and claws, which are in danger can let in the course of the beasts, no legs and claws with which to escape, if you stop the enemy did not happen. But the plants have learned to defend himself in a different way - with the help of smells, calling for help the whole army of defenders.
all started with the beans, over which experimented Dutch scientist Marcel Dicke. He noticed that when These beans are amazing spider mite on the horizon immediately visible to natural enemies. At the same time, if the spider mite is by itself, without plants, Predators do not react to it, even if they are at the same distance. Dicke agreed that the matter is in itself a victim, that is, beans, and soon his colleagues found cause of this behavior of insects.
turns out that when the plant attacking mites, the leaves begin to allocate flavors - terpenoids - The smell that and resorted bodyguards. By the way, predators of such cooperation is also directly benefit - they did not have long to find food.
Opening Dicke very intrigued scientists, who did not assume that plants are capable of such complex reactions. They were surprised even more when it turned out that the beans are not alone in his ability. For plants, which have resorted to the call of whole regiments defenders, ranked and well known to us, tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, and a total of more than 25 species.
Many of these plants may produce aromatic substances not only the damaged parts, but still quite healthy, as if worrying about their safety. And now scientists had to wonder again. It turned out that using this substance plant "communicate" among themselves, warning neighbors about the risks they face, enabling them to get ready, to call his defenders. Are trees and grass really able to communicate with each other? Or is it just another way to survive, supported by natural selection, because those who do not know how to interpret the signal disaster "neighbor," he often die.
But scientists continued to experiment and surprise. They hurt the plant needles and other piercing-cutting subjects and were waiting for, what it will take. And it did nothing, did not call for help. And what here could help small bodyguards? But when those guns smeared saliva of caterpillars, plant immediately began to cry out to his defenders. What is it? Simple chemical reaction, or they somehow are able to recognize who causing them harm, and "understanding" that the guards here will not save, do not disturb them unnecessarily? This question has no definitive answer.
More "Cunning" behavior of viscosity, which lay their eggs moth pests. The tree does not wait for caterpillars hatch and begin to devour it, and immediately hit the alarm. So that when the enemy will be able to proceed to its black case, the defenders are already ready.
But that's not all. As it turned out, some plants are able not only to realize that they eat, and send a signal to the footmen, and even to recognize exactly who they were attacked. For example, cotton distinguishes one substance, if it attacks the grinder, and another if it weevil.
And everybody knows corn has gone further. She can recognize her age eating caterpillars. The younger they are, the more intense corn calls for help. Scientists attribute this to the fact that the older caterpillars will soon turn into pupae and no longer threaten plants, and younger still will eat and eat.
Like corn, behave in certain kinds of acacia. They are close to the flowers appear more nectaries, that attract ants. And if suddenly the nectar of the whole army is not enough, the acacia tree in the reserve is still full of special bundles of protein that are located on the leaves. In summer, when many pests especially, Acacia seeks vengeance in order to attract more advocates. At another time it is more economical.
That's able to protect themselves helpless, at first glance, the plant. Or maybe they are not so simple as we used to take? Research scientists are continuing, and possibly they have not time to wonder.
all started with the beans, over which experimented Dutch scientist Marcel Dicke. He noticed that when These beans are amazing spider mite on the horizon immediately visible to natural enemies. At the same time, if the spider mite is by itself, without plants, Predators do not react to it, even if they are at the same distance. Dicke agreed that the matter is in itself a victim, that is, beans, and soon his colleagues found cause of this behavior of insects.
turns out that when the plant attacking mites, the leaves begin to allocate flavors - terpenoids - The smell that and resorted bodyguards. By the way, predators of such cooperation is also directly benefit - they did not have long to find food.
Opening Dicke very intrigued scientists, who did not assume that plants are capable of such complex reactions. They were surprised even more when it turned out that the beans are not alone in his ability. For plants, which have resorted to the call of whole regiments defenders, ranked and well known to us, tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, and a total of more than 25 species.
Many of these plants may produce aromatic substances not only the damaged parts, but still quite healthy, as if worrying about their safety. And now scientists had to wonder again. It turned out that using this substance plant "communicate" among themselves, warning neighbors about the risks they face, enabling them to get ready, to call his defenders. Are trees and grass really able to communicate with each other? Or is it just another way to survive, supported by natural selection, because those who do not know how to interpret the signal disaster "neighbor," he often die.
But scientists continued to experiment and surprise. They hurt the plant needles and other piercing-cutting subjects and were waiting for, what it will take. And it did nothing, did not call for help. And what here could help small bodyguards? But when those guns smeared saliva of caterpillars, plant immediately began to cry out to his defenders. What is it? Simple chemical reaction, or they somehow are able to recognize who causing them harm, and "understanding" that the guards here will not save, do not disturb them unnecessarily? This question has no definitive answer.
More "Cunning" behavior of viscosity, which lay their eggs moth pests. The tree does not wait for caterpillars hatch and begin to devour it, and immediately hit the alarm. So that when the enemy will be able to proceed to its black case, the defenders are already ready.
But that's not all. As it turned out, some plants are able not only to realize that they eat, and send a signal to the footmen, and even to recognize exactly who they were attacked. For example, cotton distinguishes one substance, if it attacks the grinder, and another if it weevil.
And everybody knows corn has gone further. She can recognize her age eating caterpillars. The younger they are, the more intense corn calls for help. Scientists attribute this to the fact that the older caterpillars will soon turn into pupae and no longer threaten plants, and younger still will eat and eat.
Like corn, behave in certain kinds of acacia. They are close to the flowers appear more nectaries, that attract ants. And if suddenly the nectar of the whole army is not enough, the acacia tree in the reserve is still full of special bundles of protein that are located on the leaves. In summer, when many pests especially, Acacia seeks vengeance in order to attract more advocates. At another time it is more economical.
That's able to protect themselves helpless, at first glance, the plant. Or maybe they are not so simple as we used to take? Research scientists are continuing, and possibly they have not time to wonder.
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