Plants Make More Nectar When They ‘Hear’ Pollinators Buzzing, Say Scientists

Scientists have discovered that plants can "hear" pollinators buzzing and produce more nectar in response. This new research suggests that plants and pollinators can transmit and sense vibroacoustic signals, potentially leading to artificial ways to encourage pollination in crops. By responding to the sound and vibrations of approaching pollinators, plants could improve their reproductive success and drive modifications in pollinator behavior.

Lead researcher Francesca Barbero and her team collaborated with entomologists, sound engineers, and plant physiologists to study how plants perceive their surroundings. The team conducted experiments with snapdragons and snail-shell bees, finding that the flowers increased their sugar and nectar production in response to the sounds produced by the bees. This discovery could have implications for crop growth and pollinator conservation, especially as climate change continues to impact food production and pollinator populations.