Recent research indicates that plants possess a form of intelligence, enabling them to solve problems by detecting and responding to environmental cues, such as nearby herbivore attacks, to avoid damage.
Unlike animals with a central nervous system, plants rely on a vascular system to transport water, minerals, and nutrients throughout their structure. This network of cells supports their growth and plays a crucial role in their ability to respond to external threats.
Professor André Kessler from Cornell University’s Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology highlighted the complexity of defining intelligence, noting the various interpretations across scientific fields. He emphasized that plants exhibit problem-solving behavior by adjusting their responses based on environmental stimuli, such as the presence of nearby plants under attack.
The study focused on goldenrods, flowering plants found in North America, Europe, and Asia, which emit chemical signals when attacked by beetles. These volatile organic compounds (VOCs) not only deter insects but also serve as a warning to neighboring plants, prompting them to activate similar defense mechanisms.
Kessler noted that plants can anticipate future threats by “smelling” chemical signals emitted by nearby plants, demonstrating a predictive capability akin to intelligence. This ability to adapt behavior based on environmental cues challenges traditional definitions of intelligence and opens new avenues for understanding plant communication and adaptation.
The findings underscore the sophistication of plant responses to environmental stressors and suggest that redefining intelligence to include such adaptive behaviors could reshape scientific understanding of plant life.
