Fig 1.
Graphical illustration of above ground interactions between neighboring plants by light touch and their effect on below-ground communication.
Fig 2.
Root choice test in inverted Y tube where maize seedlings had a choice between growth solutions from previously touched plants (T_solution) and untouched controls (C_solution).
Fig 3.
Graphical illustration of transferring experiment.
Volatile interaction between treatments was prevented by covering each bucket with clean Perspex cages. T—touched plants, C—untouched plants, ET—plants transferred to growth solution of previously touched plants, EC—plants transferred to growth solution of untouched plants. Roots were constantly supplied with fresh air by an aquarium pump.
Fig 4.
Graphical illustration of sharing experiment in which touched and control plants shared same solution.
Volatile interaction between treatments was prevented by Perspex cages. T—touched plants, E—plants exposed to root exudates released by touched neighbors, Ce—control for E plants and Ct—control for T plants. Roots were constantly supplied with fresh air by an aquarium pump.
Fig 5.
The choice frequency of newly emerged main maize root between the growth solution of touched (T solutions) and un-touched plants (C solution) (P = 0.005, binomial test with 0.5 expected probabilities).
Fig 6.
Changes in the biomass production and biomass allocation patterns between plants exposed to the treated solution (ET_trans) and plants exposed to the control solution (EC_trans).
Different letters above each variable represent significant difference between treatments.
Fig 7.
Changes in a) S/R ratio and b) biomass allocation patterns between plants transferred to the growth solution of touched (ET_trans) and control plants (EC_trans).
Different letters above each variable represent significant difference between treatments, while ns means no significant difference between treatments.
Fig 8.
Changes in the biomass production and biomass allocation patterns between touched plants (T_share) and those exposed to touched (E_share) and untouched neighbours (C_share).
Different letters above each variable represent significant difference between treatments, while ns means no significant difference between treatments.
Fig 9.
Changes in a) S/R ratio and b) biomass allocation patterns between touched plants (T_share), exposed to touched (E_share) and control plants (C_share).
Different letters above each variable represent significant difference between treatments, while ns means no significant difference between treatments.