Volume 13, Issue 2, February 2014, Pages 335–348
REVIEW
Advances in Effects of Sound Waves on Plants
Abstract
Sound
waves technology has been applied to different plants. It has been
found that sound waves were at different frequencies, sound pressure
levels (SPLs), exposure periods, and distances from the source of sound
influence plant growth. Experiments have been conducted in the open
field and under greenhouse growing conditions with different levels of
audible sound frequencies and sound pressure levels. Sound waves at 1
kHz and 100 dB for 1 h within a distance of 0.20 m could significantly
promote the division and cell wall fluidity of callus cells and also
significantly enhance the activity of protective enzymes and endogenous
hormones. Sound waves stimulation could increase the plant
plasma-membrane H+-ATPase activity, the contents of soluble
sugar, soluble protein, and amylase activity of callus. Moreover, sound
waves could increase the content of RNA and the level of transcription.
Stress-induced genes could switch on under sound stimulation. Sound
waves at 0.1–1 kHz and SPL of (70±5) dB for 3 h from plant acoustic
frequency technology (PAFT) generator within a distance ranged from 30
to 60 m every other day significantly increased the yield of sweet
pepper, cucumber and tomato by 30.05, 37.1 and 13.2%, respectively.
Furthermore, the yield of lettuce, spinach, cotton, rice, and wheat were
increased by 19.6, 22.7, 11.4, 5.7, and 17.0%, respectively. Sound
waves may also strengthen plant immune systems. It has been proved that
spider mite, aphids, gray mold, late blight and virus disease of
tomatoes in the greenhouses decreased by 6.0, 8.0, 9.0, 11.0, and 8.0%,
respectively, and the sheath blight of rice was reduced by 50%. This
paper provides an overview of literature for the effects of sound waves
on various growth parameters of plant at different growth stages.
Key words
- acoustic technology;
- sound waves;
- plants growth
