I have read that plants can sense each others genetic makeup through their roots, and plants that are of like DNA, as in if they came from the same batch of seeds from the same mother plant or strain, will grow normally and work together, whereas if you put 2 diff strains of the same type of plant together, like a blueberry and a white widow in the same container, they will grow with more vigor in an attempt to choke the other one out. This doesn't happen if the plants are just next to each other in seperate containers, though, indicating the communication is through the roots. I've wondered if butting 2 smartpots up against each other would be enough to get the increased vigor but not allow one to choke the other out.To my knowledge plants do not have pheromone receptors.
I don't know about that but I do know that some plants roots (Perennial ryegrass being one) produce substances toxic to competing plants (Phytotoxicity)I have read that plants can sense each others genetic makeup through their roots, and plants that are of like DNA, as in if they came from the same batch of seeds from the same mother plant or strain, will grow normally and work together, whereas if you put 2 diff strains of the same type of plant together, like a blueberry and a white widow in the same container, they will grow with more vigor in an attempt to choke the other one out. This doesn't happen if the plants are just next to each other in seperate containers, though, indicating the communication is through the roots. I've wondered if butting 2 smartpots up against each other would be enough to get the increased vigor but not allow one to choke the other out.