Interesting article

[Rosim_in_BR]

Originally Posted by Gin

That creates a visual ! Orchid .. OH NO! here he comes with the razor blade ! ......I am prettier then you are! I am going to kick your pot off that bench Gin

Orchid: Come on! Come on kick me off! I wanna see if you have the guts! I'm bigger than you are!
Other orchid: What are you thinking? You're big, but not two! I'm gonna see you down there, crying! And the bench will be all mine!!!

[Gin]

Orchid #1 Ha! you twerp just try it , I will have your pot and space . #2 You may be big but I'm sneaky , roots coming your way to wrap around your rhizome and jerk you off that high shelf that you think you own ..

[isurus79]

lol You guys sure have some violent orchids!! I can see and episode of CSI being filmed at your greenhouses right now!!

That was a really interesting article. Im curious about a few things though. The researchers (or the author) make no mention about whether or not the aspirin like chemical can be detected by other plants. They seem to jump to the conclusion that since other chemicals produced by plants can be detected, the aspirin like chemical can be detected as well. I would like to see further evidence to see if that is true!
Also, Im curious about adding stress chemicals to plants as additives. Mauro and others mention adding aspirin and ASA to their plants to boost the immune systems. My first thought was, "man if my immune system was constantly at full guard, wouldn't that drain my energy?" On one hand I see these additives as being a good immune booster, but on the other hand, is having an immune system that is constantly looking for something to kill taxing on a plant's energy reserves? I would love to hear what you guys have to say about this! Thanks in advance for any info!!

[Tindomul]

Hi Steve,

I would assume so, hence why they call it stress. Will have to read more lit to give you a real answer though.

[Gin]

In addition to having an immune-like function, the chemical may be a means for plants to communicate to neighboring plants, warning them of the threat.

"These findings show tangible proof that plant-to-plant communication occurs on the ecosystem level," says NCAR scientist Alex Guenther, a co-author of the study. "It appears that plants have the ability to communicate through the atmosphere."
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Is this what you meant ? I think an immune system in over drive would not be good for a long period of time , I suppose it would depend on the level of ASA in the plant.
If Mauro's plants are an example. I need a case of aspirin for mine . Gin

[Rosim_in_BR]

Originally Posted by isurus79

That was a really interesting article. Im curious about a few things though. The researchers (or the author) make no mention about whether or not the aspirin like chemical can be detected by other plants. They seem to jump to the conclusion that since other chemicals produced by plants can be detected, the aspirin like chemical can be detected as well. I would like to see further evidence to see if that is true!

Steve, according to the article's author there are laboratorial evidences that the methyl salicylate chemical emitted by one plant is detected by another, which put its defenses up in response. In the laboratories the thing works out. In nature it is still speculation and need scientific confirmation, but finding methyl salicylate above the forest is a good indication that the speculation has the feet on the ground.
Here's the article part where the author explain these points:
Researchers in laboratories have demonstrated that a plant may build up its defenses if it is linked in some way to another plant that is emitting the chemical. Now that the NCAR team has demonstrated that methyl salicylate can build up in the atmosphere above a stressed forest, scientists are speculating that plants may use the chemical to activate an ecosystem-wide immune response.
"These findings show tangible proof that plant-to-plant communication occurs on the ecosystem level," says NCAR scientist Alex Guenther, a co-author of the study. "It appears that plants have the ability to communicate through the atmosphere."

Originally Posted by isurus79

Also, Im curious about adding stress chemicals to plants as additives. Mauro and others mention adding aspirin and ASA to their plants to boost the immune systems. My first thought was, "man if my immune system was constantly at full guard, wouldn't that drain my energy?" On one hand I see these additives as being a good immune booster, but on the other hand, is having an immune system that is constantly looking for something to kill taxing on a plant's energy reserves? I would love to hear what you guys have to say about this! Thanks in advance for any info!!

Our immune system is different from that of the plants as we have anti-bodies, which are permanently alert, at full guard. A healthy human organism has all the means to provide the energy needed not only for the immune system to stay alert all the time and work well, but also for the entire body work well. Plants have no anti-bodies and depend on chemical messengers to start defense mechanisms. One of these mechanisms is to deliberately kill the cells around the point where a virus or fungus is trying to enter the plant to create a barrier against infection spreading. The salicylic compounds play their role only if there is a real attack and here supplementing is the key! If the plant has salicylic compounds available at any time the response to an attack can be quicker than if the plant had to produce them while being attacked. On the contrary, supplementing seems to save energy.

[cowboy51278]

This is just a thought after reading the article, but I wonder what species of insects have learned to "read" the distress signal that plants put off and see them like the antelope with the busted leg and attack. I brought home several perenials last spring (black eyed susans, shasta daisys, corriopsis) and put in probably almost 8 or 9 of each in my flower beds. Japanese beatles attacked two of the shasta daisys and a black eyed susan that weren't looking so great later in the summer. I began to wonder then if the plant was emmitting a pheramone saying 'distress' here. They only attacked the ones who were not doing so well. All in all, its a very interesting article. Thanks Gin!

[isurus79]

Gin and Mauro,
Thanks for pointing me to the sentence that says (and is then backed up)

"These findings show tangible proof that plant-to-plant communication occurs on the ecosystem level," says NCAR scientist Alex Guenther, a co-author of the study. "It appears that plants have the ability to communicate through the atmosphere."

When I had read it, I thought they were just assuming that communication was happening in this manner. You guys pointed out that there was more tangible evidence. Thanks! I missed that part.

Mauro,
I was not aware of the immune system in plants functioning like that. Looks like I learned something new! Along with Gin, however, I figured you must be doing something right because you seem to constantly be blowing everybody's minds with your plants! Thanks guys!

[Shirley]

Originally Posted by Rosim_in_BR

Btw, my orchids must be chatting a lot because I add Acetyl Salicylic Acid to the water at least once a week!

Mauro, At what strength do you add this to the water, please?

[Gin]

Interesting thought Paul . I have noticed bugs seem drawn to weak plants .. Mauro what do you think about that ? Shirley on page 1 Masda said they use 1 aspirin per 7 lt of water. Gin