Carnivorous plants, such as Venus flytrap, pitcher plant and a few others, never cease to intrigue. What intrigues most is their digestion process that helps them absorb nutrients directly from the corpses of the insects they trap, unlike normal plants that use photosynthesis for the same.
Till recently the exact mechanism of digestion of these carnivorous plants was not clearly understood. But now, a new study, conducted on Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula), reveals how repeated contacts of the prey with the plant's sensory hairs, due to its thrashing around, triggers a series of secretions that help in digestion.
According to Daily Mail, the study describes how the sequence of electrical signals ultimately activate the enzymes. Once the prey is trapped it initiates an electrical signal. The plant does not react on the first or second such signal, but when it receives it for the third time, it goes into action by producing a hormone called jasmonate.
It takes two additional electrical signals to activate the digestive glands present inside. These signals trigger the gland cells to ooze liquid-filled membranous bubbles, called secretory vesicles. Even jasmonate, by itself, can trigger this production of membranous bubbles, even without the tripping of sensory hairs.
Phys Org reports that, as per the study, the entire process depends on calcium influx and certain specific proteins. In this process, genes, present in the glands, to get activated.
Using carbon fiber electrodes over the gland surface, the researchers were able to find out the contents of the gland vesicles. It was found that initially, the vesicle contains only hydrochloric acid to dissolve the prey. After about several hours, these vesicles start producing digestive enzymes to digest and extract nutrients from the dissolved mass.
There is a time lapse of six hours for the effects of initial signals to manifest. A full 24 hours later the process gets full activated making the flytrap completely acidic and rich in digestive enzymes.
The research certainly revealed the viciousness of the flytrap. The plant not only traps the unsuspecting prey but disposes of it in the most gruesome manner using it to grow and thrive!
