http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2005-08/ps-pdb080905.php
QUOTE: The mechanism for this self/non-self discrimination could be
based on either individually specific chemical recognition =96 such as
that known from plant reproductive systems -- or physiological
coordination between roots that belong to the same plant. To test this,
the researchers used plants that had two roots and two shoots and split
them into two separate plants that were genetically identical, but
physiologically separated. The plants acted as if their separated twin
was a non-self plant, even though genetically it was identical. "This
eliminated the possibility that the mechanism was based on specific
chemical recognition," says Falik. "The results prove that at least in
the studied plants, self/non-self root discrimination is based on
physiological coordination between roots belonging to the same plant.
Such coordination might be based on internal pulsing of hormonal or
electrical signals which desynchronize when the plants are separated."
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