Several studies show that plants recognize their closest relatives, that is, plants born from the same mother, and offer them preferential treatment.
In particular, when a plant grows beside a relative, it directs fewer roots in its direction and grows less quickly, giving it a chance to settle in.
The presence of an unrelated plant in the area, however, even of the same species, causes the opposite reaction: it sends out more roots in its direction to take over as much soil as possible and grows more quickly, creating denser shade, apparently in an effort to out compete its neighbor.
At this point, no one is exactly sure how plants are able to recognize their kin, but some researchers speculate that it’s due to tiny chemical signatures present in the roots that are specific to closely related plants.
But…but, what if my relative is…a loser?!
🙂
Love seeing this…been seeing it “in the field” for a long time! Do you have references for these studies? I would dearly love to have them.
There are quite a few of references. Here are a few:
Dudley SA, File AL. Kin recognition in an annual plant. Biology Letters 2007;3:435-438.
Karban R, Shiojiri K. Self-recognition affects plant communication and defence. Ecology Letters 2009;12:502-506.
Klemens JA. Kin recognition in plants? Biology Letters 2008;4:67-68.
Thanks so much…I have not been back to this site in a while and did not see your answer.
Interesting. 🙂