06/24/2026
A new Tel Aviv University study published in July 2025 found that tomato plants under stress can emit ultrasonic sound signals when dehydrated. These sounds are beyond human hearing but may be detected by insects, suggesting plants may communicate in ways previously unknown.
In controlled experiments, Spodoptera littoralis moths avoided dehydrated tomato plants and even responded to recorded distress sounds played near healthy plants. When their hearing was blocked, their preference disappeared, indicating reliance on acoustic cues.
This finding suggests plants may interact with insects through an acoustic channel, opening new possibilities for pest control and raising questions about whether other animals can detect plant stress signals in natural environments.
Credit: Tel Aviv University study (2025).