Plants inspire neighbours to grow through a series of underground signals, a new study has revealed.

Researchers found that corn seedlings exchange messages with nearby plants via chemical signals fired into the soil from their roots.

These potent secretions tell the seedlings whether their neighbours are relatives or strangers and help them direct their growth accordingly.

Plants grow their roots towards quieter regions of soil to avoid competition and bolster the size of their leaves when in a busy patch to ensure they collect enough sunlight in their crowded surroundings.

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Plants inspire neighbours to grow through a series of underground signals, a new study has revealed. Researchers found that corn seedlings exchange chemical messages activated by touching nearby plants (left) via signals fired into the soil from their roots (right)

Corn seedlings were studied by scientists at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Uppsala to reveal their relationship under the earth.

To better understand how plants impact the growth of their neighbours, experts caressed the seedlings with a soft brush to simulate the touch of a nearby plant leaf.

They looked for changes in the plants' nearby siblings and collected the chemicals secreted by each seedling's roots, transferring them into a growth solution.

When the scientists grew new seedlings in this solution, the plants responded by directing their resources into growing more leaves and fewer roots.

This suggests the plants prioritise growing bigger leaves when they know they are among competitors to ensure they can collect enough sunlight to survive.

It was discovered that even brief disturbances above ground can lead to changes in underground communication that cause nearby plants to change growth.

Corn seedlings (stock image) choose to grow their roots towards quieter regions of soil to avoid competition and bolster the size of their leaves when in a busy patch to ensure they collect enough sunlight in their crowded surroundings

Experts also collected root secretions from corn seedlings that had not been disturbed and examined how their neighbours' growth progressed.

The seedlings' roots grew more toward solutions from untouched plants, suggesting the plant could tell the difference between the two solutions.

The roots grew in this direction to avoid competition from its neighbours, according to the scientists.

HOW DOES A SEED BECOME A FULLY-GROWN PLANT? Most plants grow from seeds, which come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Within this compact package is everything the plant needs to grow and reproduce. The outside covering of seeds is called the coat, which protects the baby plant and is split open once it begins to grow. In order for seeds to grow into plants, they need soil containing nutrients, water, sunlight, the right temperature, room to grow, and time. In order for seeds to grow into plants, they need soil containing nutrients, water, sunlight, the right temperature, room to grow, and time. If the conditions are just right, the seed begins to sprout roots deep into the soil to collect water If the conditions are just right, the seed begins to sprout roots deep into the soil to collect water, while a stem shoots upwards. The plant knows which way to grow its roots and stem because it can sense the pull of gravity through the soil - while the stem is grown in the opposite direction, the roots are pushed in line with gravity. Once the stem has breached the surface of the soil, it grows leaves to collect sunlight. The plant has specialised cell machinery that means its stem always grows in the direction of the sun to make sure it is pointing the right way. Advertisement

Lead author Dr Velemir Ninkovic said: 'Our study demonstrated that changes induced by above ground mechanical contact between plants can affect below ground interactions, acting as cues in prediction of the future competitors.

'Our results show that plant responses to neighbours can be modified by above-ground abiotic stress - these modifications are mediated by belowground interactions.'

The scientists recommended further studies into the significance of the observed growth responses in future research.

Their study was published Wednesday in the journal PLOS One.