You have discovered a previously unidentified plant, and you cultivate it in your lab. You notice that its flowers close when people are talking yet are open when the lab is relatively quiet. You suspect that this plant may have the ability to hear! Which of the following hypotheses is (are) the most reasonable to explain this phenomenon?
I. There is a cell-surface protein on the epidermal cells that becomes phosphorylated in response to vibration by sound waves.
II. There are tiny hairs on epidermal cells that bend in response to the vibration of sound waves, triggering an action potential in epidermal cells.
III. There is a cell-surface receptor on root cells that becomes phosphorylated when the soil vibrates in response to sound waves.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

All three hypotheses are reasonable explanations for how a plant might respond to sound. I suggests a biochemical response to vibration, II proposes a mechanical response similar to how hair cells in the human ear work, and III suggests a response mediated through vibrations in the soil affecting root cells. Each mechanism could feasibly contribute to the plant's ability to "hear" or respond to sound vibrations.

You Have Discovered a Previously Unidentified Plant, and You Cultivate