[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:19.06,0:00:22.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There is a very profound question
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.27,0:00:24.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that you see on the screen.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:24.13,0:00:31.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If a tree falls in a forest -- and no one is around to hear it,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:31.10,0:00:33.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,does it make a sound?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:33.02,0:00:36.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You all know this question and this question is attracting
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.05,0:00:40.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the attention of philosophers for over a 300 years.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:40.31,0:00:43.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But this question, very question, would seem
Dialogue: 0,0:00:43.22,0:00:47.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,totally ridiculous to the plants neighboring this tree,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:47.80,0:00:51.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which for many decades listened to messages
Dialogue: 0,0:00:51.13,0:00:54.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and signals coming from this fallen tree.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.10,0:00:56.10,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So today I'm going to tell you something
Dialogue: 0,0:00:56.10,0:00:59.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,about plant communication
Dialogue: 0,0:00:59.68,0:01:02.59,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and something about the ways
Dialogue: 0,0:01:02.59,0:01:06.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,plants learn from each other about their environment.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:06.14,0:01:09.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We all know something about that communication.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:09.12,0:01:11.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Plants communicate with animals all the time.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:11.70,0:01:15.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Not necessarily with fancy mammals like us
Dialogue: 0,0:01:15.70,0:01:19.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but more with little creatures like the insects
Dialogue: 0,0:01:19.41,0:01:22.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the birds you see on the screen.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:22.04,0:01:26.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They attract them by putting out very flashy flowers
Dialogue: 0,0:01:26.38,0:01:28.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to make sure that they are pollinated.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:28.89,0:01:31.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is part of their sex life.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:31.45,0:01:34.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is one way they communicate.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:34.30,0:01:35.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another way is to --
Dialogue: 0,0:01:35.80,0:01:40.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They need some transition services for their seeds.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:40.73,0:01:43.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Therefore they make flashy fruits
Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.14,0:01:46.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and put some little sweet candies inside
Dialogue: 0,0:01:46.45,0:01:50.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so mammals and other creatures will carry them away
Dialogue: 0,0:01:50.55,0:01:52.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to new places, to new environments.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.96,0:01:55.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is communication - look at the colors.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.62,0:01:57.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is not only communicating with us.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:57.90,0:02:00.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is communicating with very many other creatures.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:00.42,0:02:04.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But these are very simple ways
Dialogue: 0,0:02:04.26,0:02:07.32,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that the plants are taking
Dialogue: 0,0:02:07.32,0:02:12.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,relying on the services made by animals.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.42,0:02:14.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is all relying on the fact
Dialogue: 0,0:02:14.53,0:02:16.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that those animals have some brains.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:16.83,0:02:19.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They can decide whether to choose fruits,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:19.33,0:02:21.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whether to visit a flower.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:21.12,0:02:23.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is using the brain of the animal.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:23.96,0:02:27.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There is some decision, motor, engine behind it.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:27.28,0:02:30.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Not of the plant - the animal.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.27,0:02:35.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But in our research, we are trying to do something else.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.12,0:02:38.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We try to find out whether plants can communicate
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.52,0:02:42.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,between themselves, with other plants.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.58,0:02:46.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And one nice example is by the phenomenon
Dialogue: 0,0:02:46.38,0:02:47.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we call talking trees.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.98,0:02:53.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is not from our own studies but from other studies --
Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.16,0:02:58.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,other studies from the other laboratories around the world.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:58.09,0:03:00.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Trees are stuck in the same place - most of them.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:00.57,0:03:03.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Once they're germinated they are bound to stay there
Dialogue: 0,0:03:03.13,0:03:04.75,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for the rest of their lives.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.76,0:03:06.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sometimes for hundreds of years.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:06.88,0:03:08.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They cannot run away
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.60,0:03:11.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this is making their lives very difficult because
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.25,0:03:14.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there are very many creatures [who] are out to get them.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:14.22,0:03:17.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Many insects, mammals and other creatures
Dialogue: 0,0:03:17.17,0:03:20.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can simply come and bite their head off.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:20.38,0:03:22.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,If they won't do anything good about it.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:22.89,0:03:26.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And one way - there are many ways the plants
Dialogue: 0,0:03:26.08,0:03:28.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,defend themselves against this munching -
Dialogue: 0,0:03:28.67,0:03:30.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but one way is to put out
Dialogue: 0,0:03:30.45,0:03:34.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or to accumulate all kinds of nasty chemicals.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:34.14,0:03:36.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Once they have the chemicals,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:36.22,0:03:39.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they deter some of those grazers, herbivores -
Dialogue: 0,0:03:39.02,0:03:42.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all kinds of animals that want to munch on them.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:42.51,0:03:46.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And, in fact, they do something else too.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:46.18,0:03:49.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Once there is some munching on the plant,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:49.06,0:03:53.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,some plants are capable of putting out
Dialogue: 0,0:03:53.40,0:03:56.49,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,all kinds of odors - volatile materials,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:56.49,0:04:00.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which become airborne and picked up by other parts
Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.04,0:04:03.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the same plant and other nearby neighbors.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.84,0:04:07.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Which, only when they get this message,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:07.16,0:04:09.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,this communication from another plant,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:09.77,0:04:11.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,start to produce toxins,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:11.92,0:04:16.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which deter any attack - by insects in this case.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:16.27,0:04:19.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is pretty sophisticated behavior
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.76,0:04:23.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for brainless creatures, I would say.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.05,0:04:26.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What else can they chat about? (Laughter)
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.02,0:04:29.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this is something that we are dealing with in our group.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:29.65,0:04:33.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We are asking specifically in one of our projects:
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.61,0:04:38.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Can plants eavesdrop - listen to the hardships,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:38.08,0:04:41.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the stresses their neighbors undergo.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.18,0:04:43.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And use this information
Dialogue: 0,0:04:43.70,0:04:47.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to resist and survive better in the future.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:47.03,0:04:49.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Imagine the following situation.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:49.64,0:04:53.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There is a plant. Something bad happens to it -
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.24,0:04:58.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,stress like drought or high levels of salt -
Dialogue: 0,0:04:58.20,0:05:02.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we all know very well from this country, and it is stressed.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:02.65,0:05:06.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is doing miserably. But now I am asking
Dialogue: 0,0:05:06.31,0:05:08.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whether a neighbor plant, which is totally
Dialogue: 0,0:05:08.33,0:05:12.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or seemingly oblivious to the stress of the other plant,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:12.80,0:05:14.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,would sense the information,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:14.98,0:05:18.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,get the communication and do something about it.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:18.14,0:05:21.62,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I am asking about the red arrow here.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:21.62,0:05:24.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So how do we do this?
Dialogue: 0,0:05:24.99,0:05:28.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,All you need is a bunch of seed[ling]s
Dialogue: 0,0:05:28.92,0:05:31.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and a knife or a pair of scissors.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:31.68,0:05:34.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You cut off the root of a plant -
Dialogue: 0,0:05:34.80,0:05:37.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it would regenerate immediately many other roots.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:37.87,0:05:40.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And you can choose, carefully choose, which is very easy
Dialogue: 0,0:05:40.46,0:05:44.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to do for a five-year old, plants with only two roots.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:44.00,0:05:46.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And if they put out six, you take away four,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:46.85,0:05:49.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you leave them with two - more or less identical -
Dialogue: 0,0:05:49.39,0:05:51.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and you put them together like this:
Dialogue: 0,0:05:51.50,0:05:54.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,sharing one pot in the middle.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:54.73,0:05:57.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sharing a pot in the middle allows them
Dialogue: 0,0:05:57.21,0:05:59.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to communicate if they choose to do so.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:59.70,0:06:03.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is allowing a route of communication between the roots.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:03.68,0:06:05.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Obviously, there is another channel for communication.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:05.80,0:06:09.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Among the leaves using the same mechanism
Dialogue: 0,0:06:09.81,0:06:11.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,we were discussing before,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:11.61,0:06:14.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,through [volatile chemicals] in the air.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:14.82,0:06:16.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So what can we do?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:16.54,0:06:19.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We just stress one root of one of the plants
Dialogue: 0,0:06:19.55,0:06:22.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we ask - obviously we know that this guy
Dialogue: 0,0:06:22.02,0:06:25.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is going to be miserable about it - and we ask
Dialogue: 0,0:06:25.04,0:06:28.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whether the other guy will do something about it too.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:28.29,0:06:31.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,OK? What do we measure?
Dialogue: 0,0:06:31.07,0:06:34.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,We want something, which is simple to study,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:34.05,0:06:38.33,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,simple to measure, and we want a rapid response -
Dialogue: 0,0:06:38.33,0:06:41.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,something physiological, which is easy to pick up.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:41.56,0:06:43.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And one of those things is the way
Dialogue: 0,0:06:43.70,0:06:47.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,plants keep their leaves open or close
Dialogue: 0,0:06:47.07,0:06:50.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,when they are facing a problem.
Dialogue: 0,0:06:50.12,0:06:51.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What you see here,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:51.94,0:06:55.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,thousands of times enlarged on the screen,
Dialogue: 0,0:06:55.69,0:07:00.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is little pores every plant has in its leaves
Dialogue: 0,0:07:00.02,0:07:02.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,through which it is exchanging gas
Dialogue: 0,0:07:02.31,0:07:04.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with its environment.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:04.67,0:07:08.94,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These pores are openable, they are very flexible.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:08.97,0:07:10.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's like little shutters -
Dialogue: 0,0:07:10.56,0:07:13.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they can close and open very-very swiftly -
Dialogue: 0,0:07:13.69,0:07:18.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,through which they absorb CO2 and emit O2, oxygen.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:18.61,0:07:20.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,By the way, which allows us
Dialogue: 0,0:07:20.74,0:07:24.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to resist and survive and to live on this planet.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:24.46,0:07:27.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So when the plant is happy, it is opening the stomata,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:27.96,0:07:31.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there is no outlook for any stress,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:31.29,0:07:33.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and this is how they look - open stomata.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:33.90,0:07:36.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Stomata are the little wholes. And when the plant
Dialogue: 0,0:07:36.66,0:07:40.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is unhappy, or expecting some problem,
Dialogue: 0,0:07:40.91,0:07:44.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for instance drought, it is closing those little pores.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:44.95,0:07:47.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this is measurable, we can take a photograph
Dialogue: 0,0:07:47.42,0:07:49.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and measure it very easily.
Dialogue: 0,0:07:49.89,0:07:53.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So happy plants. We take a set of plants like this:
Dialogue: 0,0:07:53.48,0:07:59.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the one we are going to induce a stress to and a neighbor
Dialogue: 0,0:07:59.51,0:08:01.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and when there is no stress they are happy.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:01.93,0:08:03.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Nice and happy - look at the stomata -
Dialogue: 0,0:08:03.98,0:08:06.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,they are smiling at you.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:06.56,0:08:08.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They are so happy about it.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:08.39,0:08:12.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But what if I stress - by draught -
Dialogue: 0,0:08:12.40,0:08:15.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,one root of one of the plants?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:15.03,0:08:17.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It is miserable, closing its stomata,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:17.35,0:08:19.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the little holes, the little pores,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:19.92,0:08:23.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but also the neighbor - which was never harmed,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:23.36,0:08:26.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,never stressed before - feels something.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:26.88,0:08:31.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There is communication. Why to eavesdrop?
Dialogue: 0,0:08:31.71,0:08:34.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Why should an unstressed neighbor
Dialogue: 0,0:08:34.18,0:08:37.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,use such an information? It was not stressed!
Dialogue: 0,0:08:37.88,0:08:42.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, in many cases, if my neighbor is stressed now,
Dialogue: 0,0:08:42.32,0:08:45.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there is a very high chance that I am going to be stressed
Dialogue: 0,0:08:45.100,0:08:48.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in a few minutes, a few hours or a few days.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:48.08,0:08:50.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So better prepare for this.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:50.03,0:08:52.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Preparation for future is something
Dialogue: 0,0:08:52.34,0:08:54.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,extremely important in the evolution
Dialogue: 0,0:08:54.84,0:08:58.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and in the ecology of any creature.
Dialogue: 0,0:08:58.16,0:09:01.50,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The more interesting and more difficult question is
Dialogue: 0,0:09:01.50,0:09:03.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,why the stressed neighbor would allow
Dialogue: 0,0:09:03.95,0:09:08.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or give such information to its neighbors.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:08.02,0:09:11.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,After all they can be its enemies, its competitors.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:11.96,0:09:16.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Well, in many cases plants are tremendously large.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:16.80,0:09:20.70,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They can be as large as a few football fields.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:20.70,0:09:25.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They can weigh hundreds of tons in biomass.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:25.04,0:09:27.30,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They can be tremendously large.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:27.30,0:09:30.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When attack is happening in one corner or one bunch,
Dialogue: 0,0:09:30.89,0:09:33.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there is a very good rationale
Dialogue: 0,0:09:33.03,0:09:36.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to disperse the information to the rest of the plant.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:36.24,0:09:39.61,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some of them can be large by cloning.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:39.61,0:09:43.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They have many twin parts which spread over
Dialogue: 0,0:09:43.08,0:09:46.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,like in the lawn grasses in your back yard.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:46.99,0:09:50.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Or the strawberries you eat. Or the birch trees.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:50.79,0:09:53.71,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They are all clonal. They have very many members
Dialogue: 0,0:09:53.71,0:09:55.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which are connected together.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:55.54,0:09:58.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some of which are severed from each other, disconnected.
Dialogue: 0,0:09:58.92,0:10:04.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So it's a good idea to disperse the news, the warning.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:04.35,0:10:10.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Stress is happening. So if this logic is correct,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:10.30,0:10:13.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I would expect something even more elaborate.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:13.81,0:10:20.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That a non-stressed plant would share the information with its neighbors.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:20.58,0:10:23.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Not only the stressed plant would share, but also
Dialogue: 0,0:10:23.22,0:10:26.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the unstressed neighbor would share the information
Dialogue: 0,0:10:26.11,0:10:29.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with further, with more neighbors. OK?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:29.43,0:10:31.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Testing it is simple. Now you know the method,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:31.84,0:10:34.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,you can be a scientist as me.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:34.25,0:10:36.06,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You take this system, which we already know
Dialogue: 0,0:10:36.06,0:10:38.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,what happens in - the first neighbor is responding,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:38.79,0:10:40.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there is communication,
Dialogue: 0,0:10:40.55,0:10:42.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and we simply add more neighbors.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:42.40,0:10:44.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And we ask the same question.
Dialogue: 0,0:10:44.13,0:10:47.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Would this information be relayed to them?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:47.34,0:10:50.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Would this unstressed neighbor share the information
Dialogue: 0,0:10:50.77,0:10:53.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,with additional neighbors?
Dialogue: 0,0:10:53.22,0:10:58.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this is after fifteen minutes. Fifteen short minutes!
Dialogue: 0,0:10:58.81,0:11:01.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Three plants were closing their stomata.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:01.74,0:11:03.21,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So there was relay,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:03.21,0:11:06.48,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there was sharing by unstressed plants.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:06.48,0:11:11.19,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And in on hour only, all five plants in a row,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:11.19,0:11:13.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and if I would work hard enough,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:13.38,0:11:14.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and my people would work hard enough,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:14.90,0:11:19.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I bet you it would reach the tenth plant too.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:19.08,0:11:22.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So there is both communication and sharing
Dialogue: 0,0:11:22.67,0:11:26.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the information by unstressed individuals here.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:26.18,0:11:30.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is all by plants having no brains - remember that!
Dialogue: 0,0:11:30.57,0:11:34.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So far so good, but we've been showing
Dialogue: 0,0:11:34.98,0:11:38.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the communication and the sharing of the information
Dialogue: 0,0:11:38.51,0:11:41.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but we haven't proven yet that this was happening
Dialogue: 0,0:11:41.76,0:11:43.89,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,through the root communication.
Dialogue: 0,0:11:43.89,0:11:47.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This was all done by a system sharing roots, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:11:47.80,0:11:51.79,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In order to prove or to test whether it was through the root
Dialogue: 0,0:11:51.79,0:11:54.66,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or through the shoots, the leaves above ground,
Dialogue: 0,0:11:54.66,0:11:59.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,through volatile chemicals, we have to add another set
Dialogue: 0,0:11:59.100,0:12:03.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of plants which were not sharing the roots.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:03.25,0:12:05.85,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And, indeed, when plants are not sharing the roots,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:05.85,0:12:08.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,there is no communication in this case.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:08.46,0:12:10.83,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Which is a direct proof that communication
Dialogue: 0,0:12:10.83,0:12:16.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of such stress signals is going between the roots.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:16.16,0:12:20.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But there is a more profound question here. After all,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:20.41,0:12:27.03,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,stomata, as I already declared, work extremely rapidly.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:27.03,0:12:29.20,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,They can open and close in a few seconds,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:29.20,0:12:31.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in a few minutes, they can reopen
Dialogue: 0,0:12:31.81,0:12:34.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,after a few seconds, a few moments.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:34.64,0:12:37.23,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And indeed this is what they are doing
Dialogue: 0,0:12:37.23,0:12:41.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,after getting the "cry wolf" warning signals.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:41.74,0:12:44.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So this is a little fishy or might be fishy,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:44.73,0:12:46.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,maybe it's not so essential,
Dialogue: 0,0:12:46.87,0:12:50.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,maybe it's not significant for the real life.
Dialogue: 0,0:12:50.08,0:12:52.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the profound question here is to ask
Dialogue: 0,0:12:52.77,0:12:56.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,whether plants would learn from their past experiences
Dialogue: 0,0:12:56.43,0:13:00.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and counter with a stressed plant and get better
Dialogue: 0,0:13:00.58,0:13:04.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in facing and surviving hardships in the future -
Dialogue: 0,0:13:04.68,0:13:06.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in this case a drought.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:06.67,0:13:08.73,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And the way to test this is very simple.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:08.73,0:13:12.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,You take the very same system you already know.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:12.36,0:13:17.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A row of plants sharing the root systems in the dirt pots:
Dialogue: 0,0:13:17.51,0:13:19.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in one case you don't stress them,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:19.87,0:13:22.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and in another case you do stress.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:22.11,0:13:23.74,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,What do we stress and not stress?
Dialogue: 0,0:13:23.74,0:13:27.25,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,One root of one plant in the row. That's it!
Dialogue: 0,0:13:27.25,0:13:30.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And then we expose the entire system to real drought.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:30.69,0:13:33.42,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And here is the real test!
Dialogue: 0,0:13:33.42,0:13:37.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In real life, not just blinking your pores, right?
Dialogue: 0,0:13:37.78,0:13:40.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,In real life.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:40.18,0:13:42.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So this is the happy plant,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:42.13,0:13:45.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which never got any exposure to stressed neighbor,
Dialogue: 0,0:13:45.65,0:13:48.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and after one month it's bone dry!
Dialogue: 0,0:13:48.07,0:13:51.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As would be expected in Israeli green-house
Dialogue: 0,0:13:51.54,0:13:53.35,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,40 °C degrees in summer.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:53.35,0:13:56.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,OK, this is not surprising anyone here.
Dialogue: 0,0:13:56.24,0:14:00.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But this guy, this set, got one of the roots
Dialogue: 0,0:14:00.00,0:14:02.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of one of the plants exposed to drought
Dialogue: 0,0:14:02.45,0:14:04.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,before the experiment started,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:04.44,0:14:07.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,before the exposure to drought started.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:07.05,0:14:12.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And one month later, this is how it looks!
Dialogue: 0,0:14:12.13,0:14:14.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is not by giving it more water!
Dialogue: 0,0:14:14.67,0:14:18.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is by the plants getting an experience,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:18.05,0:14:21.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the communicative experience, of facing a neighbor
Dialogue: 0,0:14:21.22,0:14:24.98,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that once in the past was exposed to drought,
Dialogue: 0,0:14:24.98,0:14:27.87,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,using the information, storing it somehow
Dialogue: 0,0:14:27.87,0:14:30.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and using it later in life
Dialogue: 0,0:14:30.00,0:14:33.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and better survive and resist drought in the future.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:33.22,0:14:36.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This is both learning and memory
Dialogue: 0,0:14:36.09,0:14:38.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of brainless creatures.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:38.72,0:14:40.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And this is a big lesson!
Dialogue: 0,0:14:40.09,0:14:43.22,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The lesson is from the humble creatures
Dialogue: 0,0:14:43.22,0:14:48.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,which have no brain but can learn, memorize
Dialogue: 0,0:14:48.72,0:14:51.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and use the environmental information later on
Dialogue: 0,0:14:51.76,0:14:53.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,for better survivorship.
Dialogue: 0,0:14:53.97,0:14:57.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,I want to thank the members of my lab:
Dialogue: 0,0:14:57.12,0:14:59.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Dr. Omer Falik, who over-viewed the process
Dialogue: 0,0:14:59.90,0:15:04.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and most of the experiments, Ishay Hoffman,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:04.11,0:15:07.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Yonat Mordoch, Daniel Ben-Natan Sion,
Dialogue: 0,0:15:07.84,0:15:10.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Miri Vanunu and Oron Goldstein;
Dialogue: 0,0:15:10.47,0:15:13.54,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the generous financial support
Dialogue: 0,0:15:13.54,0:15:15.58,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,of the Israel Science Foundation.
Dialogue: 0,0:15:15.58,0:15:17.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Thank you very much!
Dialogue: 0,0:15:17.17,3:59:59.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,(Applause)