Plant intelligence is the potential of plants that allows them to sense the surroundings and change their physiology, morphology and phenotype as per the requirement. Plant physiology, molecular biology and ecology are drawn to plant intelligence.
Research shows that even the plants are capable of solving problems and communicating. There are registered plant behaviors like foraging in active manner for nutrients and light. Some changes in the physiology, architecture and its phenotype ensure plants are growing and healthy. Plant and the leaf or branch direction towards source of light also indicates intelligence. They have potential to figure out soil volume, growth, adaptability as per nutrient availability. Plants also have potential to defend against various herbivores and adapt.
The communicability of plants and signaling to other plants can also show plant intelligence. Signal transduction is one mechanism where plants can master learning and memory. There are sources showing how the electrical responses related to the environmental stimuli. The influence of actin based streaming in the cytoplasm and photosynthesis flowering and wound responses show intelligence in plants.
Production of toxins to fight insects and pests is one more instance of intelligence. The smell released by wounded parts signal the surrounding areas to prepare for the possible attacks. Tomatoes are known to produce methyl-jasmonate as one form of alarm or signal.
There are light and electric signals passed on in the photo sensitive compounds which reach out to the wavelength of light. Even the harmful UV lights are also filtered by pigments present in plants. Mimosa plant is a good example of the plant intelligence where leaves react to touch. Mechanical activities also have known to show some response among plants. The hearing responses can lead to tendril coiling in some delicate plants.
Many studies are ongoing to prove how the plant intelligence is improving and helps them survive in the changing environment.