In the fight against parasites, the Barberry sacrifices its
own seeds depending upon its chances of survival
Plants are also able to make complex decisions. At least
this is what scientists from the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research
(UFZ) and the University of Göttingen have concluded from their investigations
on Barberry (Berberis vulgaris), which is able to abort its own seeds to
prevent parasite infestation. The results are the first ecological evidence of
complex behaviour in plants. They indicate that this species has a structural
memory, is able to differentiate between inner and outer conditions as well as
anticipate future risks, scientists write in the renowned journal American
Naturalist — the premier peer-reviewed American journal for theoretical
ecology.