DAILY INNOVATION BRIEF by Maryanne Kane, Journalist
D A ILY INNOVATION BRIEF By Journalists Edward Kane & Marya nne Kane NEW SCIENCE: TURNS OUT WE ALL HAVE CHATTY PLANTS Source: Stock Scientists are translating complex molecular language in plants. Here's what we know: Research is being done at Purdue University on petunias Their vocabulary is hidden in countless proteins and other compounds within the cells Plants send warnings to one another via scent chemicals For example: Plants routinely inform their neighbors if they are being attacked by a pathogen through scent chemicals called volatile organic compounds In addition to communicating with these volatile organic compounds, the compounds (volatiles) also sterilize the stigma to protect the plant from pathogen attack In addition to Purdue, other researchers include those from UCAL-Davis and Universite Jean Monnet Saint-Etienne The research is being funded by among others The National Sc