In the age-old pursuit of nurturing life, an unconventional ally has emerged. Apart from its application in human culture, music is well known to have the ability to impact on plants and this aspect has created controversy and interest in scientists and horticulturists. Let’s traverse through the emerald bridge between sound and soil to discover the interesting impact of music on plant growth and what can be sacramental of life.
Scientific Background
While conclusive evidence on the effect of music on plant growth is still emerging and often controversial, several theoretical mechanisms have been proposed to explain the potential effects of music on plants.
- Sound Waves and Vibrations
Sound is a form of energy that is transmitted in the form of a wave through a substance (either a gas, liquid or solid). Music creates sound vibrations that travel within the surroundings or within the acoustical space. These sound waves are capable of producing physical vibrations within the objects including the plants. Observers have speculated that the vibrations generated by music might act directly on plant tissues at the cellular level, theoretically triggering some aspect of plant growth.
- Biochemical Responses
Another speculation is that vibrations may affect the biochemical responses in a plant, such as membrane permeability and enzyme activity.
Let’s take membrane permeability for instance. Plant cells contain membranes that control the movement of substances into and out of the cell. These membranes facilitate the uptake of nutrients and water into the cell and maintain cell turgidity (this is when the cell’s membrane pushes against the cell wall). It is theorized that the vibrations can transfigure the fluidity and permeability of these membranes.
Picture this: a tender buzz of classical tunes permeating through readings to plants. The rhythmic vibrations might induce slight mechanical motions or alterations in the disposition of cell membranes. This modification in membrane dynamics may improve the ionic and molecular transport through membranes leading to enhanced nutrient uptake from soil solution or might enhance water absorbing ability.
Research says that enzyme activity and associated metabolic pathways are also affected by music. Enzymes are proteins that facilitate chemical reactions inside the cell. These reactions are necessary for things like photosynthesis (the biochemical process by which plants make food), the making of protein, and the production of energy.
You might be able to interact with a variety of enzymes involved in metabolic pathways using different frequencies or rhythms in music. For instance, enzymes that catalyze the photosynthetic reactions could change their activity levels in response to particular types of vibrations. This modulation had the potential to increase light energy use efficiency for chemical energy conversion, and thereby contribute to plant growth improvements.
- Gene Expression
The notion that music can alter gene expression in plants is an exciting frontier for plant biology. Although a few studies have been published, Indicating an increasing interest in the field, this idea still remains under extensive investigation.
What this hypothesis suggests is that the vibration in music can serve as a mechanical stimuli for plants, which can activate mechanosensitive channels in plant cells, ultimately regulating Gene expression.
Gene expression is the process in which the information from the genes is utilized to create products known as proteins. For adapting and responding to the surroundings, gene expression has a need for regulation. Music-induced vibrations could control the expression of genes key in different processes and stress responses, growth, development, and defense mechanisms in between.
Experimental Design
Controlled Environments: Laboratory experiments are mostly conducted in controlled environments, like growth chambers or greenhouses, where temperature, humidity, and light intensity can be controlled. This will help in uniformity and reduce external variables that otherwise may have confounding effects on the results.
Selection of Plant Species: Scientists choose plant species with utmost care for their experiments on parameters such as growth characteristics, responsiveness to stimuli, and relevance to agriculture or horticulture. The commonly used species include Arabidopsis thaliana in case of genetic studies, tomatoes, beans, herbs, and so on.
Musical Stimuli:The choice of music, as well as how it is to be presented, is another integral component in the experimental design. Some researchers expose plants to various genres like classical, rock, or ambient, whereas some others are exposed to either complete silence or white noise. Speakers would need to be placed equidistant from the plants so as to provide them with relatively equal amounts of music exposure.
Research Throughout the Years
Many scientists have gone to various lengths to prove this notion. One of the very first studies on the effect of music on plant growth was conducted by Dr. T. C. Singh from Annamalia University in 1962, where he exposed balsam plants to classical music. He observed that the height of the plants increased by 20% and the biomass increased by 72%. He then exposed the plants to raga music played on flute, violin, harmonium, and reena. The observations were quite similar. He then repeated the experiment by exposing field crops to raga. He noted that the crops grew 25-60% above the average. After all, Singh concluded that violin music was the most effective.
Another research example was carried out by Dorothy Retallack, whose experiments took place at the Colorado Women’s College in Denver. Her first study involved the use of three Biotronic Control Chambers, one where she played the note F for an 8-hour period continuously, the second where she played similar note for three hours intermittently, and the last which she used as a control group which she left in complete silence. As a result she noted that the first group died within a period of 14 days, while the second group grew lavishly and proved to be even healthier than the third group.
Her second study involved the use of 2 chambers, each in which she placed fresh plants and a radio. The first group was exposed to a local rock station, while the second group was exposed to more soothing music, also from the radio. This went on for 3 hours each day. This time, Retallack started noticing radical improvement in the plants. The plants that were exposed to soothing music were growing larger and she also noted that their stems were starting to slowly bend towards the radio. As for the group with rock music, half the plants had grown taller while the others were stunted. By the 16th day, the group with rock music was dying while the group with soothing music kept growing.
Conclusion
Although the music effect on plant growth may still raise eyebrows in some scientific quarters, empirical evidence and research in progress show otherwise. More than an aesthetic and cultural device, music may actually reverberate with the biological rhythms of plants, opening new vistas in understanding and relating to the natural world. The more this exciting interface between music and plant physiology is explored, the greater the potential to learn things that could not only further scientific knowledge but also spur innovation in agriculture, horticulture, and ecological conservation.
References
- Mazlan. “The Effect of Music on Plant Growth.” Dengarden, Dengarden, 6 Sept. 2012, dengarden.com/gardening/the-effect-of-music-on-plant-growth.
- Petrescu, Ştefan, et al. “THE INFLUENCE of MUSIC on SEED GERMINATION of BETA VULGARIS L.VAR. CICLA L.” Journal of Young Scientist, vol. V, 2017, journalofyoungscientist.usamv.ro/pdf/vol_V_2017/Art12.pdf.
- Pink, Andrea. “Fact or Myth: Does Music Affect Plant Growth?” Bloomscape, Andrea Pink, 5 Apr. 2020, bloomscape.com/green-living/does-music-affect-plant-growth/.
- “The DoveSong Foundation — the Effect of Music on Plants (the Plant Experiments).” http://www.dovesong.com/positive_music/effects_of_music.asp
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