1. سَبَّحَ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ

2. Lecturer of plant physiology
PLANT COMMUNICATIONS By
Mohamed Farag Mohamed
Lecturer of plant physiology

3. ?! FACTS Are the plants dumb and deaf ?!
What is the language which the plants talke?!
Could the plants communicate with self only or with a great variety of symbiotic partners?!
Do the plants have a nervous system like animals?!

4. FACTS A plant consists of interconnected cells, tissues, and organs
Plants are highly sensitive organisms that actively compete for environmental resources both above and below the ground.
They assess their surroundings,
EX: phototropism, gravitropism , stomatal movement
EX: they can estimate how much energy they need for particular goals.
They evaluate information and then modify their behaviour accordingly
They perceive themselves and can distinguish between self and non-self. (Trewavas 2003, Baluska and Mancuso 2007).

5. All physiological processes in the plant are a type of communication
Today, it is recognized that the coordination of growth and development in plants is possible only by using signs or communication
(Witzany, 2007)
In contrast to the central nervous system of animals, which controls metabolism and reactions centrally, the control in plants is decentral. This enables plants to start independent growth or developmental activities in certain regions of their body, for example on how a particular branch should grow, depending on the wind, light angle and overall ‘architecture’ of the plant body (Trewavas 2005).

6. Although this nerve-like cellular equipment has not reached the same great complexity as in animal nerves, a simple neural network has been formed within the plasma membrane of a phloem and plasmodesmata enabling it to communicate efficiently over long distances
Some neuromotoric components include acetylcholine neurotransmitters, cellular messenger calmodulin, cellular motors actin and myosin, voltage-gated channels, and sensors for touch, light, gravity and temperature

7. Types of plant communications
Intraorganismic
within the plant body
Intracellular
(in the same cell)
Intercellular
(between cells)
Interorganismic
between the same and different plant species
Trans-specific
between plants and non-plant organisms
Microorganisms
Insects
Birds
Animals
Human

8. COMMUNICATION Induction Root Leaves ABA,K,Ca,pH Light stress
Emitter
message
medium
Receiver
Ex: Stomatal movement with day and night and also with drought
Induction
Env. signal
Root
Leaves
ABA,K,Ca,pH
gravity
Light
stress

9. COMMUNICATION Induction Ax. buds IAA Light stress Ex: Apical dominance
Emitter
message
medium
Receiver
Ex: Apical dominance
Induction
Terminal bud
Ax. buds
Env. signal
IAA
gravity
Light
stress

10. COMMUNICATION ROS Induction Light stress
Emitter
message
medium
Receiver
Ex: electron transport during photosynthesis
Induction
Env. signal
gravity
ROS
Light
stress

11. Message or sign Histamine glycine glutamate Hormone Auxin GA3
Chemical substance
Histamine
glycine
glutamate
dopamine
acetylcholine
Hormone
Auxin
GA3
CKs
Electrical signal
Sound
Mechanical

12. The chemical communication

13. chemical molecules are used as signs
chemical molecules are used as signs. They function as signals, messenger substances, information carriers and memory medium in either solid, liquid or gaseous form, in order to guarantee coordination and organization processes. The chemical communication in and between plants is complex. More than 20 different groups of molecules with communicatory function have currently been identified. For instance, up to 100,000 different substances, known as secondary metabolites, are actively used in the root zone.
(Witzany, 2007)

14. Chemical molecules serve in plant memory
The detection of nutrition resources and their periodic, cyclic availability plays a key role in plant memory, planning, growth and development. When, for example, young trees obtain water only once a year, they learn to adjust to this over the following years and concentrate their entire growth and development precisely in the expected period (Hellmeier et al. 1997).

15. carnivorous plant Dionaea muscipula Ellis
There are three forms of plant memory ,depending on the duration of memory retention (Volkov et al, 2008)
sensory memory
Using our new charge injection method, it was evident that the application of an electrical stimulus between the midrib (positive potential) and a lobe (negative potential) causes Venus flytrap to close the trap without any mechanical stimulation (Volkov, et al, 2008)
carnivorous plant Dionaea muscipula Ellis
Volkov AG, Adesina T, Markin VS, Jovanov E. Kinetics and mechanism of Dionaea muscipula
trap closing. Plant Physiol 2008; 146:

16. sensory memory short term memory long term memory
There are three forms of plant memory ,depending on the duration of memory retention (Volkov et al, 2008)
sensory memory
short term memory
long term memory
carnivorous plant Dionaea muscipula Ellis
immunological memory in stress
maintenance of a particular pattern of gene expression.
induced resistance and susceptibility to herbivory
Chromatin dynamics remodeling
storage and recall functions in seedlings
histone modification
Vernalization
histone
replacement
Dormancy

17. Chemical molecules serve in coordination of defense
Some “call” other species to fight predators off
Plants release signal chemicals to alert other plants of an infestation of herbivores

18. From study the defense in plants
It was not until the early 1980s that the first reports on ‘Talking Trees’ entered the scientific literature.
In 1983, Sitka willow (Salix sitchensis) growing close to herbivore-infested conspecifics were reported to express higher levels of resistance to herbivores than did plants that were growing further away
Engelberth, J. et al. (2004)

19. The attacked plants had ‘warned’ their neighbors.
Similarly, undamaged poplar (Populus x euroamericana) and sugar maple (Acer saccharum) saplings increased their anti-herbivore defense when exposed to the air around damaged plants Dolch, R. and Tscharntke, T. (2000)`
plant resistance expression mediated by volatile compounds that come from neighboring plants.
The attacked plants had ‘warned’ their neighbors.
(Martin Heil and Richard Karban, 2009)

20. Talking Trees ?! Does the emitter benefit from plant–plant signaling?!
communication
Emitter
Receiver
airborne signals ?!
Does the emitter benefit from plant–plant signaling?!

21. What happen is not true communication but “eavesdropping”
Airborne signals usually improve the resistance of the receiver, but without obvious benefits for the emitter, thus making the explanation of this phenomenon problematic
What happen is not true communication but “eavesdropping”
Eavesdropping: the act of listening surreptitiously to a private conversation.
Glossary
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are released from resistance- expressing plants, can trigger specific defensive responses in neighboring plants of various species
helping neighbors could reduce herbivore pressure at the population level and would improve the inclusive fitness of the emitter, particularly for species with short dispersal distances that have a higher probability of being surrounded by related conspecifics.

22. EFN Extrafloral nectar
nectar involved in the indirect defense of plants via the attraction of ants and other predatory arthropods]. EFN secretion can be induced by herbivory and by exposition of plants to herbivore-induced VOCs and is not involved in pollination.

23. lima bean tendrils exposed to herbivore-induced volatiles lost less leaf area to herbivores and produced more leaves and inflorescences than did controls in field experiments
Wild tobacco plants whose defenses were induced by VOCs released from a damaged sagebrush neighbor produced as many or more flowers and seeds as non-induced controls in experiments that were repeated every year for five years

24. History of research on airborne plant–plant signaling

25. Refs Response induced in the receiver Induction of the emitter Species
Rhoades, D.F. (1983)
Resistance to natural
herbivores
Natural herbivory
Willow (Salix sitchensis
Baldwin, I.T. and Schultz, J.C. (1983)
Increased content of
phenolic compounds
Mechanical damage
Sugar maple (Acer saccharum
Arimura, G-I. et al. (2000)
Increased expression of defense-related genes
Infestation with spider mites
Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus)
Farmer, E.E. and Ryan, C.A. (1990)
Synthesis of proteinase
inhibitors
Purified gaseous compounds
released from sagebrush
Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum
Godard, K.A. et al. (2008)
Changed expression of
hundreds of genes
Monoterpenes as released
from herbivore-damaged plants
Arabidopsis thaliana

26. Refs Response induced in the receiver Induction of the emitter Species
Bruin, J. et al. (1992)
Increased attraction of
predatory mites, reduced
oviposition by herbivorous
mites
Infestation with herbivorous mites
Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum
Shulaev, V. et al. (1997)
Increases disease resistance
Infection with tobacco mosaic virus
Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum)
Birkett, M.A. et al. (2000)
Increased synthesis of VOCs
and attraction of predators
(Z)-jasmone identified as VOC
released from several plant species
Bean (Vicia faba)
Glinwood, R. et al. (2009)
Decreased attractiveness
to aphids and increased
attractiveness to parasitoids
Intact barely plants representing
different cultivars as emitters
Barley (Hordeum spp.)

27. The electrical communication

28. Gunar and Sinukhin (1963) proposed the idea that the excitation waves or action potentials in higher plants could be information carriers in intercellular and intracellular communication
According to Goldsworthy (1983), electrochemical signals that look like nerve impulses exist in plants at all levels of evolution.
The reason why plants have developed pathways for electrical signal transmission most probably lies in the necessity to respond rapidly to environmental stress
In contrast to chemical signals such as hormones, electrical signals are able to rapidly transmit information over long distances

29. Do plants feel pain?!!!!
In 1848 , Gustav Fechner believed plants were capable of emotions just like humans and animals, and grow big and strong if they were spoken to with love and affection

31. Plants May Communicate by Sound

32. Using a microscanning laser Doppler vibrometer (a device to measure vibrations), the scientists recorded young maize plants making clicking noises with part of their roots. When the researchers broadcast similar sounds, the plants bent their roots toward it.
Many plants are known to respond to sound. For example, vibrations cause sensitive plants to fold their leaves, and flowers like blueberries and tomatoes only release pollen at the ultrasound frequency of a bee’s wing flap.

33. What happen if the human can understand the language of the plants?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

34. Publications in
plant communication

36. قال الله تعالى
حَتَّى إِذَا أَتَوْا عَلَى وَادِي النَّمْلِ قَالَتْ نَمْلَةٌ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّمْلُ ادْخُلُوا مَسَاكِنَكُمْ لا يَحْطِمَنَّكُمْ سُلَيْمَانُ وَجُنُودُهُ وَهُمْ لا يَشْعُرُونَ (18) فَتَبَسَّمَ ضَاحِكاً مِنْ قَوْلِهَا وَقَالَ رَبِّ أَوْزِعْنِي أَنْ أَشْكُرَ نِعْمَتَكَ الَّتِي أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيَّ وَعَلَى وَالِدَيَّ وَأَنْ أَعْمَلَ صَالِحاً تَرْضَاهُ وَأَدْخِلْنِي بِرَحْمَتِكَ فِي عِبَادِكَ الصَّالِحِينَ (19) وَتَفَقَّدَ الطَّيْرَ فَقَالَ مَا لِي لا أَرَى الْهُدْهُدَ أَمْ كَانَ مِنْ الْغَائِبِينَ (20) لأعَذِّبَنَّهُ عَذَاباً شَدِيداً أَوْ لأَذْبَحَنَّهُ أَوْ لَيَأْتِيَنِي بِسُلْطَانٍ مُبِينٍ (21) فَمَكَثَ غَيْرَ بَعِيدٍ فَقَالَ أَحَطتُ بِمَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِ وَجِئْتُكَ مِنْ سَبَإٍ بِنَبَإٍ يَقِينٍ (22)

38. Ex: Plants are especially sensitive to light and have various receptors for UV, blue, green, red and far-red light (Trewavas 2005)