By: Rimsha Aslam
Plant enthusiasts have always thought this, but now Australian scientists have discovered proof that plants can actually sense our touches. Additionally, depending on the stimulation the plants are receiving, whether it’s a few raindrops or a gentle pat, which is perhaps the coolest thing we’ve heard all week, different sensations set off a chain reaction of physiological and genetic changes.
Despite popular belief that plants have no sense of touch, research demonstrates that they are actually quite sensitive to it. While plants don’t seem to mind when we step on them, pinch a flower, or even brush by them while out on a walk, they are very aware of this contact and are already reacting to it.
First things first, let’s avoid idealising this circumstance as much as possible, which is something we humans love to do. Despite how cute and sentimental everything sounds, plants cannot “think” because they lack brains. Additionally, there is little evidence to support the idea that they genuinely “feel” in any way that resembles how we experience the sense.
Plants do have a fair amount of environmental awareness. For instance, they can “hear” when insects are chewing on them and release chemicals to stop the behavior. Additionally, they may communicate with one another via a fungus-based underground “internet”. The plant uses this input to stay aware of its surroundings, make ready for any potential danger, or take advantage of changing weather conditions even though there isn’t an apparent reaction to any of the stimuli. One thing the researchers discovered was that spraying plants with water droplets changed the expression of thousands of genes, causing a profound physiological response that began minutes after the stimulus and ended within 30 minutes.
We were able to demonstrate that the physical contact created by water drops striking the leaf surface rather than any active chemicals in the spray was what triggered this reaction. Stroking the plants or touching them with tweezers might cause a similar physiological cascade, which made them curious as to how else they might react. An unexpected shadow passing over their leaves might accomplish the same.
Plants, unlike mammals, are unable to flee dangerous situations. Instead, it appears that plants have evolved sophisticated stress defence mechanisms to sense their surroundings, identify danger, and take the right action.
Two proteins that may turn off the plant’s sensitivity to touch were also found by the study, which is significant. In the future, this might prevent plants grown in controlled conditions, like greenhouses, from altering their DNA and reacting to stimuli that cause “false alarm.”
It is clear that a single study cannot fundamentally alter how we perceive plant stimulation, and other studies are required to confirm the results. But for the time being, perhaps we should all exercise greater restraint when we prod and prod our plants or block their light with our enormous human heads.