Plant Communication and Interaction Concepts

The lecture by Bethany Nya discusses plant chemical communication, focusing on how plants use chemical signals to communicate through roots and air. It covers the role of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and mycorrhizal fungi in plant communication, and presents experiments that demonstrate these processes. The lecture concludes that root communication is more efficient than airborne methods.

What is the primary role of calcium ions in plant chemical communication?

• To help in photosynthesis

• To bind with protein receptors and signal danger

• To attract pollinators

• To provide nutrients to the plant

Which compounds do plants release into the air to communicate?

• Nitrogen oxides

• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

• Sulfur compounds

• Carbon dioxide

Why do plants communicate with each other?

• To change their color

• To increase their growth rate

• To compete for sunlight

• To alert each other of threats and attract pollinators

What is the role of mycorrhizal fungi in plant communication?

• To provide shade to the plant

• To produce flowers

• To repel herbivores

• To connect plant roots and facilitate nutrient exchange

How do plants use VOCs to prepare for potential threats?

• By producing more seeds

• By growing taller

• By releasing VOCs to alert neighboring plants

• By changing their leaf color

What is a common mycelial network?

• A network of plant stems

• A network of plant flowers

• A network of plant roots connected by mycorrhizal fungi

• A network of plant leaves

Which acid is commonly used by plants for defense communication?

• Citric acid

• Jasmonic acid

• Sulfuric acid

• Acetic acid

What do plants exchange with mycorrhizal fungi?

• Nitrogen and phosphorus for sugar

• Leaves for flowers

• Water for sunlight

• Carbon dioxide for oxygen

What was the main finding of the 2009 experiment on plant communication?

• Plants communicate more effectively through roots than through the air

• Plants do not communicate at all

• Plants only communicate through the air

• Plants communicate by changing their color

What is the main advantage of root communication over airborne communication?

• It is more colorful

• It is less energy-consuming

• It is faster

• It covers larger distances