據(jù)國外媒體報道,，荷蘭科學家的最近一項研究顯示，許多草本植物,，如草莓,、苜蓿、蘆葦,、羊角芹等會通過匍匐莖彼此連接成為一個龐大的植物網(wǎng)絡,，并維持很長一段時間。這種類似于計算機網(wǎng)絡的連接可使植物分享一些信息,，這是科學家首次發(fā)現(xiàn)植物間的網(wǎng)狀交流現(xiàn)象,，也促使我們重新審視周圍的植物,。
這項研究由荷蘭內(nèi)梅亨大學的司徒愛佛(Stuefer)與Nijmegen共同主持。他們培育了一些苜蓿及其它植物進行研究,，苜蓿,、草莓都屬于有匍匐莖的植物，這種植物的特點是除通過種子進行有性繁殖外,，還可通過匍匐莖進行無性繁殖，有趣的是,，自然狀態(tài)下匍匐莖長出新植株很久以后仍不腐爛,，新植株借助于產(chǎn)生它的匍匐莖與母株相連。這樣匍匐莖將眾多的植株連在一起,，形成匍匐莖網(wǎng)絡,。
上述現(xiàn)象我們其實知道很久了，但從沒有人考慮過植物會利用匍匐莖形成的這個網(wǎng)絡交流信息?，F(xiàn)在,，司徒愛佛與同事第一次發(fā)現(xiàn)，苜?？稍诤οx來臨后通過匍匐莖網(wǎng)絡發(fā)出內(nèi)信號,。如果一株苜蓿被毛毛蟲侵襲，它會向與它相連的其它苜蓿發(fā)出內(nèi)信號,，接收到內(nèi)信號的苜蓿會繼續(xù)傳遞這種信號,，從而使匍匐莖網(wǎng)絡內(nèi)的苜蓿都得到通知；同時,，接收到內(nèi)信號的苜蓿會改變植物體的化學成分,，增加力學阻力，使自己變得不再惹蟲子吃,。通過這個網(wǎng)絡,，苜蓿等植物能夠領先侵襲者一步做好防御準備，研究顯示植物通過匍匐莖網(wǎng)絡共享信息確實可以大大減少所受損失,。然而,，有利就有弊，正如互聯(lián)網(wǎng)方便了我們共享信息但卻同時引來了無數(shù)的病毒一樣,，司徒愛佛也發(fā)現(xiàn),，植物病毒也可利用匍匐莖網(wǎng)絡迅速感染所有相連的植物。
Recent research from Vidi researcher Josef Stuefer at the Radboud University Nijmegen reveals that plants have their own chat systems that they can use to warn each other. Therefore plants are not boring and passive organisms that just stand there waiting to be cut off or eaten up. Many plants form internal communications networks and are able to exchange information efficiently.
Chat network
Many herbal plants such as strawberry, clover, reed and ground elder naturally form networks. Individual plants remain connected with each other for a certain period of time by means of runners. These connections enable the plants to share information with each other via internal channels. They are therefore very similar to computer networks. But what do plants want to chat to each other about?
Recently Stuefer and his colleagues were the first to demonstrate that clover plants warn each other via the network links if enemies are nearby. If one of the plants is attacked by caterpillars, the other members of the network are warned via an internal signal. Once warned, the intact plants strengthen their chemical and mechanical resistance so that they are less attractive for advancing caterpillars. Thanks to this early warning system, the plants can stay one step ahead of their attackers. Experimental research has revealed that this significantly limits the damage to the plants.
Viruses
However there are two sides to the coin. That is not just the case for the Internet but also for plants. It appears that plant viruses can use the infrastructure present to rapidly spread through the connected plants. The infection of one plant therefore leads to the infection of all plants within the network.
This research clearly reveals that the general image of plants is a poor reflection of reality. Who had now suspected that the majority of plants around us are constantly internetting?
This research is part of the Vidi project 'Plant Intranets. Costs, benefits, & risks of communication pathways in clonal plant networks' that was funded by NWO and the Radboud University Nijmegen.
Image: Clover plants can warn each other via a network of runners.
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Note for editors, not for publication
For further information please contact:
Dr Josef Stuefer (Radboud University Nijmegen) t.: +31 24 365 2912, [email protected] www.eco.science.ru.nl/expploec/josef.htm
