Plants may use language to communicate with each other, Virginia Tech researcher finds

[n2doc]

BLACKSBURG, Va., Aug. 15, 2014 – A Virginia Tech scientist has discovered a potentially new form of plant communication, one that allows them to share an extraordinary amount of genetic information with one another.

The finding by Jim Westwood, a professor of plant pathology, physiology, and weed science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, throws open the door to a new arena of science that explores how plants communicate with each other on a molecular level. It also gives scientists new insight into ways to fight parasitic weeds that wreak havoc on food crops in some of the poorest parts of the world.

His findings were published on Aug. 15 in the journal Science.

“The discovery of this novel form of inter-organism communication shows that this is happening a lot more than any one has previously realized,” said Westwood, who is an affiliated researcher with the Fralin Life Science Institute. “Now that we have found that they are sharing all this information, the next question is, ‘What exactly are they telling each other?’.”

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http://www.vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2014/08/081514-cals-talkingplants.html

[enough]

1. This is really interesting research, but I don't think the word "language" applies to

what they are describing. In fact it's misleading. I realize you're using the headline as written in the article.

Anyway, thanks for posting this -- fascinating.

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. I think the word "language" is appropriate.

"thousands upon thousands of mRNA molecules were being exchanged between both plants, creating this open dialogue between the species that allows them to freely communicate."

If 2 things "communicate" they have do so in a "language" of some sort.

[COLGATE4]

3. I'm certain that they do.

It seems like only yesterday when we saw Rick Perry talk with Rick Santorum. If that isn't plant to plant communication, I don't know what is.

[AlbertCat]

4. If that isn't plant to plant communication, I don't know what is.

Are the plants speaking English? ... 'cause this is 'Merica!

[COLGATE4]

5. Sure, cuz there Murkan plants! nt

[AlbertCat]

6. ‘What exactly are they telling each other?’.”

"That Bird of Paradise just thinks she's the bees knees!"
"I hear she can't even get bees to visit her!"
"No!"
"Word!"
" BTW...How's your mother's grub problem?"
"Oh, she suffers so!"
"She's just a Christian martyr!"

[Jim__]

7. Eukaryotic cells do modify mRNA.

Just a thought, but, mRNA is often spliced by eukaryotic cells, usually splicing out introns, but sometimes splicing in RNA from a different strand of mRNA. If this is 2-way "communication", I wonder if it could be that the parasite is capturing mRNA from the host and splicing in some of its own RNA. The generic process already exists within cells, this might be a case of the parasite piggy-backing onto an existing cell process.

[Javaman]

8. Frank: Bob, so, how are the leaves today?

Bob: Shut up, Frank.