The Intelligent Behavior of Plants

Leendert C van Loon

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Plants are as adept as animals and humans in reacting effectively to their ever-changing environment. Of necessity, their sessile nature requires specific adaptations, but their cells possess a network-type communication system with emerging properties at the level of the organ or entire plant. The specific adjustments in growth and development of plants can be taken to represent behavior. Their ability to learn from experience and to memorize previous experiences in order to optimize fitness allows effective acclimation to environmental stresses and can be considered a form of intelligence. Intelligent behavior is exemplified by the exceptional versatility of plants to deal with abiotic stresses as well as microbial and insect attack by balancing appropriate defensive reactions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)286-94
Number of pages9
JournalTrends in Plant Science
Volume21
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2016

Keywords

  • Acclimatization
  • Adaptation, Physiological
  • Environment
  • Plant Development
  • Plant Physiological Phenomena
  • Plants
  • Stress, Physiological
  • Journal Article

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