The Electrome of a Parasitic Plant in a Putative State of Attention Increases the Energy of Low Band Frequency Waves: A Comparative Study with Neural Systems

Abstract

Selective attention is an important cognitive phenomenon that allows organisms to flexibly engage with certain environmental cues or activities while ignoring others, permitting optimal behaviour. It has been proposed that selective attention can be present in many different animal species and, more recently, in plants. The phenomenon of attention in plants would be reflected in its electrophysiological activity, possibly being observable through electrophytographic (EPG) techniques. Former EPG time series obtained from the parasitic plant Cuscuta racemosa in a putative state of attention towards two different potential hosts, the suitable bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and the unsuitable wheat (Triticum aestivum), were revisited. Here, we investigated the potential existence of different band frequencies (including low, delta, theta, mu, alpha, beta, and gamma waves) using a protocol adapted from neuroscientific research. Average band power (ABP) was used to analyse the energy distribution of each band frequency in the EPG signals, and time dispersion analysis of features (TDAF) was used to explore the variations in the energy of each band. Our findings indicated that most band waves were centred in the lower frequencies. We also observed that C. racemosa invested more energy in these low-frequency waves when suitable hosts were present. However, we also noted peaks of energy investment in all the band frequencies, which may be linked to extremely low oscillatory electrical signals in the entire tissue. Overall, the presence of suitable hosts induced a higher energy power, which supports the hypothesis of attention in plants. We further discuss and compare our results with generic neural systems.

Rising from the shadows: Selective foraging in model shoot parasitic plants

“…Although the mechanisms of perception of these remote host‐derived cues and their effect on the foraging strategy were not directly investigated, the authors suggested that the interaction from a distance with other plants may cause changes in the physiology of Cuscuta parasites as, when they detected a host, they refrained from synthesising chlorophylls, indicating a switch in their survival strategy. A follow‐up study revealed that the processing of host‐derived cues might be related to low‐band electrophysiological frequencies and supports the hypothesis of selective attention in dodders (Parise et al, 2023). Together, these findings substantiate that Cuscuta evolved pre‐ and postcontact mechanisms driving the selection of potential hosts.…”

Plant Signaling, Behavior and Communication

“…In a complex and demanding environment, it is likely that making choices would demand the ability to attend specific cues more relevant for plant survival. In this direction, Parise et al [ 21 ] have proposed that plants can show states of attention when facing specific challenges co-occurring with different cues. They suggest that the phenomenon of attention in plants would be reflected in their electrophysiological activity, which can be analyzed by investigating the potential existence of different band frequencies (including low, delta, theta, mu, alpha, beta, and gamma waves) using a protocol adapted from neuroscientific research.…”