This research was done using tomato plants. The soil was shielded, and watered independently of the spraying.
phys.org
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- Tomato plants sprayed with large water droplets were shorter and more compact than other groups.
- There were minimal visible differences between plants receiving small droplets or no spray.
- Fruit yield and quality were similar among the three groups.
- Significant changes in hormones involved in plant defenses, resulting in increased resistance to destruction by moth larvae or gray mold compared to plants that weren't sprayed.
- Higher levels of defense-mediating chlorogenic acid in their leaves compared to the other plant groups.
- Reduced emissions of volatile organic compounds compared with plants receiving no spray, which made them less attractive to egg-laying moths and resulted in 74% fewer eggs on the leaves.
Changing watering practices to improve tomato plant health
Some people believe that talking to your plants makes them thrive. While there's limited scientific support for sound improving plant health, there's a growing amount of evidence about the benefits of mechanical stimulation, like touch, wind or rain. Researchers reporting in the Journal of...
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