Plant behavior: Theoretical and technological advances

Abstract

The widespread disregard for plant behavior is gradually being overcome through more inclusive theoretical approaches and the development of appropriate and advanced technologies.

In this paper we review scientific evidence on recent contributions to the study of plants, such as movement and communication as well as potential forms of attention. Some of the most recent contributions to the study of plant abilities come from comparative studies on biocommunication and research on the accuracy of plants in responding to different environmental stimuli through electrophysiological and kinematical analyses in different context (e.g., individual and social). Furthermore, an underexplored area that warrants further investigation is plants’ multisensory perception and its potential link to multimodal communication capabilities.

Research into this set of abilities could help to clarify the degree of behavioral flexibility in sessile organisms without a nervous system and enhance discussions on interactive behavior as expressed in nature. This, in turn, will help to bridge the gap between studies on animal organisms and the rest of the living world.