Plants talk, but are they deaf?

Abstract Plants actively respond to damage with the induction of defences. One of these defences involves emitting volatiles that attract the enemies of the enemies of the plant. Whether downwind neighbouring plants ‘eavesdrop' on these cues and respond with the induction of their defences too has been debated intensively. Evidence in support of this hypothesis has been accumulating recently, provoking exciting mechanistic and ecological questions that need to be addressed.

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