Are the plants chatting with each other?

Basil, known and revered in India as 'tulsi', is well known to have a beneficial effect on neighboring plants. This is because it gives out some organic volatile substances that inhibit the growth of some weeds. Its roots retain moisture longer and so help the neighboring plants.
Latest research has shown that chili seeds planted next to the basil plant germinated faster than those which did not have the good neighbor.

ToI: Are the plants chatting with each other?