News Plants

Stressed plants make ultrasonic clicking noises

Detecting the sounds could offer a new way to monitor water stress in crops

three plants on a table with two microphones pointed at each

Using ultrasonic microphones (pictured), scientists detected clicking noises made by various types of plants.

Ohad Lewin-Epstein

By Meghan Rosen

Listen carefully, and a plant may tell you it’s thirsty.

Dry tomato and tobacco plants emit distinct ultrasonic clicks, scientists report March 30 in Cell. The noises sound something like a kid stomping on bubble wrap and also popped off when scientists snipped the plants’ stems.

When evolutionary biologist Lilach Hadany gives talks about her team’s results, she says, people tell her, “‘You cut the tomato and it screams.’”