Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: pushkar on 18/03/2010 08:51:02

Title: Can plants achieve actions at a distance?
Post by: pushkar on 18/03/2010 08:51:02

is action at distance possible in plants

Title: Can plants achieve actions at a distance?
Post by: chris on 19/03/2010 21:42:51

I'm not really sure what you mean by this, but the answer is almost certainly going to be yes. Plants control the composition of the atmosphere, they regulate local environments and they also influence the activity of and exchange nutrients with other plants at a distance. This latter phenomenon is achieved via an entity called the "fungal switchboard"; it's become apparent in recent years that plants have close associations with soil fungi mycelia; plants provide energy to the fungi, which return the favour by secreting other factors essential for growth and which the plant cannot make. There is also evidence that plants may transmit materials between themselves using the fungi as conduits. Therefore a plant growing in a less-ideal location can be supported by other - more propitiously-positioned - individuals.

Chris