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Plants communicate when they're attached

Tuesday, April 10, 2007 9:58 AM EDT

As you read on, later in this article, some may think information below is totally amazing.

Others may think I've gone mad, or that I don't row my boat with both oars, that my elevator doesn't go to the top floor. You get the idea.

Scientists and researchers from Pennsylvania State University are discovering some amazing phenomenon about bugs (both good and bad), plants and their incredible correlation.

It seems plants release many different odors (volatile compounds) into the air.

It's their way of communicating (yeah, I know, humor me, read on) with each other and their surroundings.

These compounds or orders serve as chemical signals to other plants and even insects.

When a plant is being attacked by an insect, the plant will release a specific compound that will lure a species of beneficial insects to its aid to prey upon the offending insects.

And this is even more amazing. A plant releases a slightly different compound for each species of bad bug attacking it!

This compound is a distress signal to the right beneficial for help.

And if you don't find this to be utterly amazing, read on.

A plant can also release compounds when it's under attack to warn the neighboring plants to get ready and to raise THEIR defenses.

These studies are telling us that nature is sooo amazing, and that the link between plants and insects is quite complex, to say the least.

This relationship was not created yesterday. It's taken years. Millions of them, in fact.

We gardeners need to recognize - no, realize - the importance of this partnership and allow it to take place in our gardens.

Fortunately for man, the insect world is divided against itself.

It is a realm of endless struggle, of fierce and deadly competition.

It is estimated that far more than half the insects prey upon other insects.

- Edwin Way Teale

Nancy Wiersma of Dowagiac writes a weekly gardening column.

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