Scientists have discovered that dry tomato and tobacco plants emit distinct ultrasonic clicks. Although it is not yet clear if these sounds are intentional or not, they could potentially be used to monitor water stress in plants, offering a new tool for agriculture. Previous research had suggested that plants produce vibrations and ultrasonic emissions, but this study used ultrasonic microphones placed next to living plants instead of direct sensor connections. The team found that thirsty tomato plants emitted about 35 ultrasonic clicks per hour, while tomato plants cut at the stem and tobacco plants emitted fewer clicks. The researchers also found that each plant species had a unique “voice” that could be differentiated using a machine learning algorithm. Additionally, similar sounds were detected in other plants such as wheat, corn, grapevines, and cactus. Further investigation is needed to determine the cause and potential evolutionary significance of these emitted sounds, as well as whether other organisms are able to detect and respond to them.
| Signal | Change | 10y horizon | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plants emit distinct ultrasonic clicks | Monitoring water stress in plants | Improved methods of monitoring plant water | Advancement in agriculture and crop management |
| Microphones can pick up plant sounds | Detection of plant stress and health | Increased use of technology in agriculture | Advancement in agriculture and crop management |
| Different plants emit different sounds | Identification of plant species | Improved plant identification methods | Advancement in agriculture and crop management |
| Other organisms may eavesdrop on plant sounds | Investigation of other organisms’ response | Understanding plant interactions | Advancement in ecological research |
| Various plants emit similar sounds in different environments | Discovery of a common phenomenon | Increased understanding of plant communication | Advancement in ecological research |