Researchers at Rice University have found evidence “plants make predawn preparations to fend off hungry caterpillars.” They say it’s all down to the circadian rhythm, commonly called a “body clock.” Using lights, researchers forced a test group of plants to go off-cycle, to have their days and nights mixed up. These plants were destroyed by pests, while the on-cycle plants survived relatively unscathed.
What did the plants with good sleep habits do differently? The Rice researchers point to the production of the “hormone jasmonate, which plants use to regulate the production of metabolites that interfere with insect digestion.” This hormone basically is a poison to pests, and apparently plants regulate its production based on their internal clocks.
So, make sure your plants get a good night’s sleep!
~Art