Introduction
The study by Kroeze (n.d.) is focused on the ability of plants to listen to music. As the author mentions, it has been established that plant stomata are capable of reacting to the music. Kroeze (n.d.) remarks that stomata may open due to particular types of music, such as songs of birds or high tones. Investigations demonstrate that plants grow and develop better if their stomata are open wide.
Main body
However, there is a warning for those who like this approach. Keeping the stomata open by force disables them from regulating their water amount and may cause dehydration (Kroeze, n.d.). Thus, letting the plant listen to music for longer than three hours daily may lead to adverse outcomes. Kroeze (n.d.) also explains the mechanism of shell resonance that may develop or restrict the process of protein synthesis in plants.
The author notes that the synthesis of proteins occurs “in tune to the vibration” (Kroeze, n.d.). Every amino acid constituting proteins has a particular frequency, which leads to each protein having a different scope of frequencies. A probable explanation of various tones’ impact on plants is that the hormones accountable for cell extension are made of two amino acids. Kroeze (n.d.) mentions that plants prefer classical music. It would be rather interesting to investigate who the most favorite composers of the plants are.
The article by Landhuis (2014) is dedicated to the ability of plants to hear danger that comes in the form of predators. The author analyzes the study by Heidi Appel and Rex Cocroft, plant biologists working at the University of Missouri, Columbia. These scholars did an experiment to check whether plants can hear predators. Appel and Cocroft performed their experiments on Arabidopsis. They put a piece of reflective tape on the leaf of the plant.
On the adjoining leaf, Appel and Cocroft put a hungry caterpillar (Landhuis, 2014). A laser beam was aimed at the tape, and scientists noticed that even with a minimal movement of the tape, the laser light signal would change. The speed of the light’s variation gave Appel and Cocroft the estimation of the leaf’s motion. After several years of experimenting on Arabidopsis, scientists moved their research to a new level. They recreated the vibrations recorded on Arabidopsis for a different plant.
Surprisingly, the effect was the same as when a caterpillar was sitting on the leaf (Landhuis, 2014). Scientists then decided to check whether plants would react to other sounds in a similar way. The experiment showed that plants only responded to chewing sounds (Landhuis, 2014). The findings of this article may be used in research to compare the levels of response in different plants.
In his article, Nauta (n.d.) gives an account of a variety of studies focused on the impact of music on plants. According to research performed by Dorothy Retallack, jazz and classical music attracts plants whereas rock music makes them sick. Marigolds exposed to rock music for a fortnight died, while those that “listened” to classical music grew beautiful and healthy (Nauta, n.d.). An Indian researcher T. C. Singh has been experimenting on Indian music and plants, and his findings are spectacular. Singh was able to stimulate the growth of tobacco and peanuts 50% higher than average, and rice 25-60% higher (Nauta, n.d.).
An agricultural researcher from Illinois George Smith performed an experiment with soybeans and corn. The plants that “listened” to Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in blue” all day long were greener and thicker, and their weight was greater than of the plants that grew in the non-experimental environment (Nauta, n.d.). A study performed by Peter Belton in Canada resulted in lower damages of corn by moth and larvae gained by using ultrasonic waves.
Conclusion
A New York researcher George Milstein reported that plant growth was increased by a constant low hum, leading to plants’ blooming half a year earlier than usual (Nauta, n.d.). The article by Nauta (n.d.) may be used in research when investigating the impact of music on organic gardening.
References
Kroeze, D. (n.d.). Influence of music on plants. CANNA. Web.
Landhuis, E. (2014). Plants ‘listen’ for danger. Science News for Students. Web.
Nauta, P. (n.d.). Music and plants – How to use music to boost plant growth. Smiling Gardener. Web.