Species protect themselves when bitten

Recent research by American scientists shows that some plants can be felt when they become food, and they don't like it.

According to Business Insider, the study was conducted in Arabidopsis , a species of the mustard family. This is also a species commonly used in scientific experiments.

Not only do they feel when they become food, some plants can also create defense mechanisms.(Artwork: Business Insinder)

The University of Missouri expert team made sound recordings of the vibrations that a caterpillar produces when eating leaves. According to the original theory, the tree can feel and hear this vibration. To control the experiment, they created some other vibrations, simulating natural vibrations.

Research results show that, when becoming a caterpillar food, Arabidopsis will produce a mild toxic mustard oil and move to the leaves, to push the predator away.

They can also feel and hear vibrations when chewing from caterpillars and pushing out more oil. Meanwhile, this plant has no reaction when other vibrations are present in the surrounding environment.

"Our previous study examined plants' response to music sounds. However, this study is the first example to demonstrate plant response to ecological vibrations. We found that, eating activity generates vibrations that will alter the transformation of plant cells, creating "defensive" substances , helping to repel attacks from caterpillars , " Heidi Appel, a member of expert team, said.