Plants have INTELLIGENCE and the ability to ‘problem solve’, scientists claim

Now look away, vegans.

A new study suggests that plants possess a form of intelligence.

Researchers discovered that they can solve problems by sensing when a nearby plant is being devoured by insects and adapting to avoid destruction.

Many scientists define intelligence as having a central nervous system, where electrical signals relay messages to other nerves to process information.

Instead, plants have a vascular system, a network of cells that transport water, minerals and nutrients to help them grow.

Now scientists are calling for a redefinition of intelligence that includes problem solving.

Kessler, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at Cornell University, said: “More than 70 definitions have been published for intelligence and there is no agreement on what it is, even within a given field.”

Previous studies have shown that plants emit a high-frequency distress sound when they experience environmental stress, such as damage to their leaves and stems.

Researchers have also speculated that plants may be able to count, make decisions, recognize their kin, and even remember events.

The latest revelation came from studying goldenrod, flowers found in North America, Europe and Asia, as the team observed how it responded when eaten by beetles.

The plant emitted a chemical that informed the insect that the plant is damaged and is a poor food source.

The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were then detected by nearby goldenrods which produced the same defense mechanism to avoid being eaten.

“This would fit our definition of intelligence,” Kessler explained.

‘Depending on the information it receives from the environment, the plant changes its standard behavior.’

The team conducted experiments in 2021 showing that goldenrod can also detect higher far-red light or daylight ratios reflected from leaves of neighboring plants.

Far-red light affects the growth of all vegetation.

As neighboring plants sense a nearby goldenrod being eaten, they have adapted by growing faster and releasing more of the defensive substance.

“When no neighbors are present, the plants do not resort to accelerated growth when eaten and the chemical responses to herbivores are significantly different, although they still tolerate quite large amounts of herbivores,” the researchers shared.

The revelation came from studying goldenrod, flowering plants found in North America, Europe and Asia, as the team observed how it responded when eaten by beetles.

In addition, plants were found to ‘smell’ the chemical that indicated an infestation was present.

“The fugitive emissions coming from a neighbor are predictive of future herbivory,” Kessler said.

‘They can use an environmental signal to predict a future situation, and then take action on it.’

Applying the concept of intelligence to plants could inspire new hypotheses about the mechanisms and functions of plant chemical communication, while also changing people’s thinking about what intelligence really means, Kessler said.