Scientists Discover a New Way Plants Communicate
- Seoyoung Kang
- Jun 6
- 1 min read
June 6, 2026
Seoyoung Kang
A recent study by researchers at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences found that plants can detect chemical signals released by nearby plants and adjust their growth. The research was led by Velemir Ninkovic and was published in the Journal of Experimental Botany. Scientists discovered that barley plants can use volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are chemicals released into the air, to gather information about neighboring plants. This finding suggests that plants are much more aware of their environment than people thought.
In the experiment, the researchers used three barley varieties with different growth rates: Fairytale (slow-growing), Luhkas (medium-growing), and Salome (fast-growing). The plants were exposed only to the VOCs released by neighboring plants for 25 days. Afterward, the scientists measured changes in biomass and examined gene expression. By doing this, they could determine whether the chemical signals affected the plants’ growth and defense strategies.
The study could have important benefits for agriculture. VOCs are already known to help plants communicate about dangers such as insect attacks, but this research shows that healthy plants also use these chemicals to exchange information. If scientists understand these signals better, farmers may be able to develop new mixed-cropping methods that improve crop productivity while also increasing resistance to pests and diseases. This could help create more sustainable farming systems in the future.
These findings suggest that plants can detect the growth strategies of their neighbors through airborne chemical signals and adjust their own resource allocation to improve their chances of survival and competition.
