Underground signals carried through common mycelial networks warn neighbouring plants of aphid attack

Abstract

The roots of most land plants are colonised by mycorrhizal fungi that provide mineral nutrients in exchange for carbon. Here, we show that mycorrhizal mycelia can also act as a conduit for signalling between plants, acting as an early warning system for herbivore attack.

Insect herbivory causes systemic changes in the production of plant volatiles, particularly methyl salicylate, making bean plants, Vicia faba, repellent to aphids but attractive to aphid enemies such as parasitoids.

We demonstrate that these effect scan also occur in aphid-free plants but only when they are connected to aphid-infested plants via a common mycorrhizal mycelial network. This underground messaging system allows neighbouring plants to invoke herbivore defences before attack. Our findings demonstrate that common mycorrhizal mycelial networks can determine the outcome of multitrophic interactions by communicating information on herbivore attack between plants, thereby influencing the behaviour of both herbivores and their natural enemies.

This is very interesting, I actually remember learning something about this during a Biology class I was taking. They didnt go into much detail, but I read into it further on my own. Its a very interesting find

Plants and fungus root and mycelial communication is incredible indeed!

What gives rise to consciousness as we know it? Is it related to the complexity of connections, electrical and chemical signalling and possibility of active response to external stimulus? If it has anything to do with that, seems these plants and fungus have all the possibility of being conscious.

I believe that everything is conscious on some level or another, especially when information like this is presented.

If a plant can send a signal that it is being attacked to the roots, where mycorrzhial can pick it up and send it across themselves to another plant using these, and that plant can pick up on that signal, knowing what it means and changing the chemicals it produces accordingly, what other proof needs to be presented that these plants are conscious? How else would they know that they are being attacked at all?

It is an amazing discovery, and one that needs to have further experimentation done. It can one day prove the consciousness of these lower organisms.