Plants Eavesdrop for Defense

[herpguy]

A surprising new discovery shows that certain plants, such as tobacco, "eavesdrop" to help themselves survive.

 

When sagebrush is attacked by insects, the plant gives off odors to warn other plants of the coming danger. Other sagebrush plants detect these odors and prepare by releasing chemical defenses. It turns out that tobacco "eavesdrops" on the sagebrush, and detects these odors. It then waits to give off arsenal until the insects attack, thus saving vital energy for important tasks.

 

http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/200603...YwN5bmN hdA--

[jeskill]

sounds interesting .... The link isn't working though.

[herpguy]

Sorry about that, here:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20060306/sc_space/plantseavesdropfordefensepurposes