Main conclusions Repeated stress in Mimosa pudica reduces photosystem efficiency, alters gene expression, shifting from flavonoid biosynthesis to stress resistance pathways, offering insights for sustainable plant stress defense strategies. Abstract Mimosa pudica is a plant known for its ability to fold leaves in response to mechanical disturbances, which serves as a visible phenotypic stress marker. Leaf folding response occurs with a timing and an intensity that vary depending on the stimulus. This adaptive behavior may function as a defense mechanism, helping plant resist herbivores and environmental stressors. In this study, we investigated the gene regulatory networks underlying M. pudica leaf closure following single and multiple mechanical disturbances (whole pot drops). Chlorophyll fluorescence was measured as fast phenotypic indicator of transient or permanent photochemical damage, and transcriptional responses were measured to identify the key genes regulating phenotypic changes after single or multiple drops. A progressive reduction of the quantum yield of PSII revealed a lower electron transport rate in leaves subjected to one or more drops, which may indicate the onset of energy shortage, potentially caused by limited ATP availability that constrains both leaf movement and photosynthesis. The transcriptomic profiles revealed larger differences when plants were subjected to multiple drops than to a single drop, with respect to unstressed controls. Interestingly, following a single drop, the majority of up-regulated genes were associated with the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway. After multiple drops, however, genes associated with biotic and abiotic stress resistance pathways were predominantly up-regulated. These findings provide new insights into the gene regulatory networks driving stress-induced movements in M. pudica leaves and lay the groundwork for developing sustainable strategies for plant stress defense.

Health Benefits - ನೀವು ಮನೆಯಂಗಳದಲ್ಲಿ, ತೋಟದಲ್ಲಿ ಕಳೆಯಂತೆ ಬೆಳೆಯುವ ಒಂದು ಗಿಡವನ್ನು ಗಮನಿಸಿರಬಹುದು. ಅದನ್ನು ಮುಟ್ಟಿದರೆ ಸಾಕು, ಅದು ನಾಚಿದ ಹಾಗೆ ತನ್ನೆಲೆಗಳನ್ನು

🎙️ Part 1: Mind Without Brains  ✨ Series: Mind Beyond Matter Ever met a genius blob? In this mind-bending premiere of Mind Beyond Matter, we meet creatures that think without a brain. From slime molds that can design subway systems, to plants that remember, learn, and even make decisions. We journey through strange forms of intelligence hiding in plain sight: shy plants that stop flinching, fungi that "talk" underground, and organisms that challenge what it means to know. Are brains really the only seat of thought? Or is intelligence something more… distributed? Rhythmic? Hidden in places we never thought to look? From squishy slimes to sentient stems, this episode is a love letter to all the quiet, weird, and wonderful minds of nature. 🧠 Featuring: - Physarum polycephalum (the Tokyo-dreaming slime mold) - Mimosa pudica (our very own makahiya) - Pea plants with Pavlovian instincts - Forest fungi and the Wood Wide Web 👁️‍🗨️ Prepare to unlearn what you know about intelligence.  🌱 Because maybe… the world is thinking back. Thank you for listening and for keeping wonder alive. Stay curious. Keep your wonder close. 🌙✨ A gentle note: This episode of the LilWeird Podcast blends science, folklore, thought experiments, and a pinch of poetic speculation. While everything shared is rooted in credible research and genuine curiosity, this isn’t a scientific journal. It’s a storytelling space. So take what resonates, question what doesn’t, and let your mind wander freely. Interpret with care, and most of all, wonder responsibly. 📚 References & Suggested Readings Nakagaki, T., Yamada, H., & Tóth, Á. (2000). https://www.nature.com/articles/35035159?utm_source=chatgpt.com. Nature, 407(6803), 470. → This paper explores how a slime mold (Physarum polycephalum) solved a maze using its natural foraging behavior—a mindless organism solving spatial problems that mimic human-designed systems. Reid, C. R., Latty, T., Dussutour, A., & Beekman, M. (2012). https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1215037109. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109(43), 17490–17494. → Shows how slime molds leave behind chemical trails to avoid retracing their steps, effectively demonstrating memory without neurons. Gagliano, M., Renton, M., Depczynski, M., & Mancuso, S. (2014). https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00442-013-2873-7. Oecologia, 175(1), 63–72. → A groundbreaking study revealing that plants like Mimosa pudica are capable of learning and memory through habituation. Adamatzky, A. (2022). Lhttps://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.211926. Royal Society Open Science, 9(4), 211926. → This research suggests that electrical activity in fungi might encode information in a language-like form.

Plant Humanities visual essays