There will be blood in a football game that sets two bitter rivals against each other. However, not all of the players are on the field with a mindset of inflicting permanent pain upon the other team. Some players, the good sportsmen, will be kind enough to help lift their counterpart up after a rough tackle. These players respect the other team and look forward to playing their rival again a year later, when both teams have fully regenerated.

When fire and plants oppose each other, it is usually fire that emerges victorious. When fire leaves the field (no pun intended), plants are seemingly out for the count. How do the plants manage to pick themselves up after such a fiery battle (pun intended)? In a recent study done by Johannes Van Staden, it may be the smoke that acts as the good sportsman.

Smoke contains compounds that are able to inhibit and promote seed germination. In situations where the temperature and moisture are not optimal for plant regrowth, germination is inhibited by the smoke. Once conditions are more likely to favor germination, the inhibitor will step back and allow the promoter to help increase seed germination.

Discussion Question: What hypotheses could you come up with as to how smoke might regulate seed germination?

News Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100127113751.htm
Journal Article: http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/np900630w