Did you know that plants can tell when they are being eaten?

I tell you I learn something new every single day.  Plants can tell when they are being eaten and don't like it one bit!

According to this article recent research from the University of Missouri has shown that plants can tell when they are being eaten and don't like it one bit!  As weird as it might seem, the study shows that plants can somehow sense that they are being eaten and put out defenses to stop it.  Here's how it works:

This particular study was on the ever-popular Arabidopsis, specifically the thale cress, easily the most popular plant for experimentation. It’s in the brassica family, closely related to broccoli, kale, mustard greens, and cabbage, though unlike most of its cousins it isn’t very good to eat.

"...researchers had to first make a precise audio version of the vibrations that a caterpillar makes as it eats leaves. The theory is that it’s these vibrations that the plant can somehow feel or hear. In addition, the researchers also came up with vibrations to mimic other natural vibrations the plant might experience, like wind noise."

"Turns out, the thale cress actually produces some mustard oils and sends them through the leaves to deter predators (the oils are mildly toxic when ingested). And the study showed that when the plants felt or heard the caterpillar-munching vibrations, they sent out extra mustard oils into the leaves. When they felt or heard other vibrations? Nothing. It’s a far more dynamic defense than scientists had realized: the plant is more aware of its surroundings and able to respond than expected."

Pretty cool.  Except it has brought up another concern for our Brassicas in our garden: They must be experiencing hearing loss and cannot hear the caterpillars feasting on their leaves.  I am putting off getting a hearing aid for myself, much less getting one for my plants!  The only other option is that our caterpillars have developed a taste for mustard oil.  Regardless, my plants didn't get this memo. Since they can 'hear,' maybe I'll read this study to them when I get home this evening so that they can learn about the internal weapons against pests they have at their disposal.

Munch, munch, munch...

I say all that in jest, but to update the post from the other day, it appears that spraying the plants with Lye Soap spray has worked to discourage additional damage to the leaves.  That is very good news and we'll continue to keep this method in our arsenal against pests that want to eat our food before we do.

It remains warm in South Louisiana as we're still experiencing high temperatures in the mid-80's. The warm weather heightens the bug problems as evidenced in the photograph shown above, but according to news forecasts, we'll have a cool-down this weekend that will send low temps down into the low 40's, the coolest weather so far this fall. We're all anticipating it.