Coherence without cause? On the quantum coherence hypothesis in tree electrophysiology during solar eclipses.

Chiolerio et al. (Chiolerio A, Gagliano M, Pilia S, Pilia P, Vitiello G, Dehshibi M, Adamatzky A. 2025 Bioelectrical synchronization of Picea abies during a solar eclipse. R. Soc. Open Sci. 12, 241786. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.241786) suggest that synchronized bioelectrical signals observed in Norway spruce (Picea abies) during a solar eclipse result from the condensation of dipole wave quanta (DWQ), a macroscopic quantum state. They further propose that this coherence may indicate a form of memory linked to the Saros eclipse cycle. In this commentary, I assess the plausibility of this hypothesis in light of established biological principles. I argue that the observed phenomena are more convincingly explained by known physiological and environmental responses. The quantum framework, while theoretically interesting, lacks empirical support in plants and overlooks simpler, testable mechanisms grounded in plant biology and ecology. I discuss why a quantum interpretation is not required and suggest alternative directions for research into plant electrical signalling.