Two Westcountry universities are featuring in a BBC2 science series about how plants have been the driving force behind many of the greatest ecological changes on Earth.

Presented by geologist Professor Iain Stewart of Plymouth University, How to Grow a Planet is a new three-part landmark series.

The first instalment – which aired last Tuesday – featured an experiment held at Exeter University.

The trial, visualising communication between plants, was conducted specially for the programme by a University of Exeter team, led by Professor Nick Smirnoff, in the state-of-the-art biosciences laboratories in the Geoffrey Pope building, which has just undergone a £25 million refurbishment.

“Taking part in this series provides a great opportunity to showcase the world-class research we carry out here at Exeter,” Prof Smirnoff said.

The filmed experiment includes seeing a plant that has been damaged triggering a reaction in separate neighbouring plants.

This response, in which the wounded plants release a gas that triggers wound responses, is already well-known. However, by introducing a firefly gene responsive to the wound-induced gases, the team were able to visualise this response using a sensitive photon-counting camera.

The scientists know that a mix of chemicals is being emitted by the wounded plants, but they don’t know which the active ingredient is or why it is happening, although the suspicion is that it is part of some kind of defence mechanism.

Prof Smirnoff, a plant biochemist, admits that this experiment is just the starting point in understanding the chemical processes behind the plants’ behaviour.

“We were pleased to be able to carry out this one-off experiment for the programme, and much more work is needed to uncover what is going on,” he said.

The series takes Prof Stewart across deserts, forests and mountains in search of the world’s most remarkable and exotic plants.

Prof Smirnoff added: “We hope the series will inspire people to consider the huge impact that plants have on almost every aspect of our lives.”

How to Grow a Planet is broadcast on BBC 2 on Tuesday at 9pm.