Abstract
Sound is ubiquitous in nature. Recent evidence supports the notion that naturally occurring and artificially generated sound waves contribute to plant robustness. New information is emerging about the responses of plants to sound and the associated downstream signaling pathways. Here, beyond chemical triggers which can improve plant health by enhancing plant growth and resistance, we provide an overview of the latest findings, limitations, and potential applications of sound wave treatment as a physical trigger to modulate physiological traits and to confer an adaptive advantage in plants. We believe that sound wave treatment is a new trigger to help protect plants against unfavorable conditions and to maintain plant fitness.
Introduction
Sound is an omnipresent feature throughout the world (). The definition of sound is “a vibration that typically propagates as an audible wave of pressure, through a transmission medium such as a gas, liquid or solid,” and each sound is characterized by its wavelength hertz (Hz), intensity (decibel), speed, and direction (). The audible sound that is perceptible by humans has frequencies from about 20 to 20,000 Hz, and above it is ultrasonic. In air at standard temperature and pressure, the corresponding wavelengths of sound waves range from 17 m to 17 mm. The speed of sound depends on the medium the waves pass through, and is a fundamental property of the material (). Living organisms produce and perceive sound to help understand the environment around them (; ). Sound-based communication through the eardrum or specialized mechanosensory systems are commonly found in humans and certain terrestrial mammals (). Even insects emit species-specific sounds to help them escape unfavorable conditions or to attract mate (). Moreover, fruit flies, snakes, frogs, and birds can perceive sound vibrations without an eardrum (). Fruit flies detect vibrations via their antennae, whereas snakes use their jawbones (). Plants perceive sound using an unidentified organ. Unlike wind, sound also has a frequency. This plays a critical role in the impact of sound on living organisms. Although the role of sound in the animal kingdom has been studied, how plants (as sessile organisms) respond to sound has not been extensively elucidated due to the lack of an organ in plants designed to recognize air vibrations, like eardrums in humans. However, a growing body of evidence emerging from biological studies on the response of plants to sound waves indicates that plants are highly sensitive organisms that generate and react to sound signals from their environment (). Previously, farmers and several scientists in China and South Korea applied music referred to as “Green Music” to plants in order to improve plant health and yield (). In these trial experiments, the results were sometimes inconsistent and variable in different locations. In addition, the sound used in these experiments was not standardized, and was not performed on the uniform and consistent hertz (vibration) and decibel (strength) levels of the signals, and these studies utilized different styles of music for sound treatment (). Therefore, studies involving the use of sound as a trigger have been recognized as fringe science. However, recent findings using cutting-edge technology, quality control for hertz and decibel levels, and the integration of big data have helped change the viewpoint about this field as it has entered the realm of generally accepted science (; ; ). We now believe that plants can indeed benefit from sound through their mechanosensory machinery. Many studies have already demonstrated sound-induced phenotypic changes and possible sound signaling pathways in model and crop plants. In this review, we discuss how plants generate and respond to sound and how sound can be used to improve plant growth and plant resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses. Here, we propose that sound is an emerging physical trigger in plants beyond chemical triggers, such as plant hormones and other immune activators which have been used to improve plant health.
Production (Speaking) and Perception (Listening) of Sound in Plants
To understand how plants respond to sound, we need a new framework beyond chemical compound-based signal initiation and responses in plants. We therefore classified the steps involved in this multi-layered process from the emission of sound by plants to the altered phenotypes observed after the plant has recognized the sound information. This basic knowledge helps us elucidate how sound signals trigger changes in plants in nature.
Can Plants Make Sound Vibration?
It was long thought that plants do not make sounds. Although humans cannot perceive sound from plants, recent studies using small, highly sensitive sound receivers have surprisingly demonstrated that plants indeed make spontaneous sounds and even release sound emissions from their xylem (; ; ) (Figure 1A). Since the xylem is a water-transporting system in plants, transpiration, and re-hydration occur in xylem vessels. Transpiration produces tension in xylem vessels, and simultaneously, gas bubbles (cavitation) are produced in xylem vessels during transpiration. Indeed, gas bubbles adhering to vessels may produce sound in plants (). It is reported that when transpiration decreases, audible sound is released and transpiration increases, ultrasonic emission is released (). Also, the fact that plants emit ultrasonic vibration has been disputed, but it has recently been confirmed that ultrasonic vibration of 20–105 kHz is emitted by connecting a sensor directly to the plant stem that has been barked (). Moreover, sound vibrations are generated when the diameter of the xylem vessel decreases (). Increasing studies also suggest that tension in the xylem is the cause of this sound in plants. However, whether plants use this ultrasonic sound for their communication remains to be elucidated. In addition to sound produced by plants, the idea that insects also produce sounds is widely accepted because we often hear sounds such as bees buzzing, insects chewing, and flies buzzing. How do the sounds of insects affect plants? Specific frequencies of bee buzzing facilitate the pollination of flowers, since these sounds induce the release of pollen from plant anthers (). In addition, insect chewing serves as an alarm signal to plants. Recorded insect chewing sounds induce the production of chemicals related to plant defense in Arabidopsis, such as glucosinolate and anthocyanin (). Collectively, these findings suggest that plants respond to insects through sound, sometimes serving as warning signals or beneficial signals to the plant.
FIGURE 1
Can Plants Respond to Sound?
How can plants perceive sound and thereby respond to specific stress stimuli without a hearing organ? The roots of Zea mays were reported to bend toward sound with a frequency of 100–300 Hz among the tested frequencies of 0–900 Hz in the hydroponic system (
Although sound is not a visible or chemical stimulus, plants exposed to sound (a physical force) produce increasing amounts of mRNA (
Table 1
| Plant species | Plant responses | Sound-exposed tissues | Frequency (Hz) | Magnitude (dB) | Duration | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arabidopsis | Increased expression of defense-related genes | Shoot | 500 | 80 | 1 h | |
| Increased expression of mechano-stimulus responsive genes | Shoot | 500 | 80 | 1 h | ||
| Increased expression of photosynthesis-related proteins and genes | Shoot | 250 and 500 | 80 | 1 h | ||
| Increased expression of redox homeostasis genes | Shoot | 500 | 80 | 1 h | ||
| Cotton | Increased yield | Shoot | 100–1000 | 70 | 3 h (every other day) | |
| Cucumber | Increased yield | Shoot | 100–1000 | 70 | 3 h (every other day) | |
| Chrysanthemum | Changes in hormone levels | Mature callus | 1400 | 95 | 1 h | |
| Increased levels of soluble proteins | Stem | 1000 | 100 | 1 h for 6 and 9 days | ||
| Lettuce | Increased yield | Shoot | 100–1000 | 70 | 3 h (every other day) | |
| Maize | Root tip bending | Root | 100, 200, and 300 | Unknown | Unknown | |
| Pea | Root growth toward flowing water | Root | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | |
| Rice | Increased expression of light responsive genes | Shoot | 125 and 250 | 65–70 | 4 h | |
| Increased yield | Shoot | 100–1000 | 70 | 3 h (every other day) | ||
| Enhanced tolerance to drought stress | Shoot | 800–1000 | 100 | 1 h | ||
| Increased photosynthesis | Shoot | 800–1000 | 100 | 1 h | ||
| Spinach | Increased yield | Shoot | 100–1000 | 70 | 3 h (every other day) | |
| Strawberry | Increased photosynthesis | Shoot | Unknown | Unknown | 3 h (every day) | |
| Sweet pepper | Increased yield | Shoot | 100–1000 | 70 | 3 h (every other day) | |
| Tomato | Increased yield | Shoot | 100–1000 | 70 | 3 h (every other day) | |
| Delayed ripening | Fruit | 1000 | 100 | 6 h | ||
| Wheat | Increased yield | Shoot | 100–1000 | 70 | 3 h (every other day) |
Responses of plants to sounds of different frequencies and magnitudes.
In fact, plant hormone signaling networks are already beginning to be elucidated. Distinct and dynamic changes in plant hormones and the downstream signaling cascades are known to occur throughout a plant’s lifecycle. Plant hormones typically regulate plant cellular processes and orchestrate most aspects of plant physiology including plant growth, flowering, ripening, senescence, and defense responses (
Application of Sound Waves to Improve Plant Health
As mentioned above, plants appear to perceive sound, as they exhibit transcriptional and hormonal changes in response to sound wave treatment. Next, we provide an overview of the implications of sound wave treatment in the field or growth room. Recent studies using ‘omics’ technologies, such as transcriptome and proteomic analyses, showed that proper sound treatment has a positive effect on plant growth. Based on this information, we discuss the expansion of the use of sound in modern agriculture and plant biology.
Plant Protectants
Exposing plants to sound activates plant innate immunity and (more specifically) elicits representative SA and JA defense signaling pathways similar to those observed in response to different chemical triggers (
FIGURE 2

Sound waves as a plant stimulant and protectant. Artificial sound treatment can elicit various effects in plants. First, enhancement of seed germination and plant growth. Sound promotes plant growth by regulating the plant growth hormones indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and gibberellin (
Post-harvest Delaying Agent
Fruit ripening is associated with dramatic increases in ethylene production after harvest. Reducing ethylene production is an important way to delay fruit ripening. We previously showed that sound-treated tomato showed reduced ethylene production and delayed softening compared with the control (
Plant Growth Stimulants
Sound treatments have been broadly applied to alter plant growth. For example, sound-treated tomato showed 13.2% increased yields compared with the control (
Perspectives and Remaining Questions
Sound represents a potential new trigger for plant protection (
Statements
Author contributions
C-MR and JJ designed the review. JJ, S-KK, JK, M-JJ, and C-MR wrote the review.
Acknowledgments
This research was supported by grants from the Agenda Project (Agenda Project Nos. PJ012814 and PJ01247201) of the Rural Development Administration (RDA), the Advanced Biomass R&D Center (ABC) of the Global Frontier Project funded by the Ministry of Science and ICT (ABC-2015M3A6A2065697), and the KRIBB Initiative Program, South Korea.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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Summary
Keywords
plant protectant, plant stimulant, sound vibration, transcriptome, physical trigger, ripening delaying
Citation
Jung J, Kim S-K, Kim JY, Jeong M-J and Ryu C-M (2018) Beyond Chemical Triggers: Evidence for Sound-Evoked Physiological Reactions in Plants. Front. Plant Sci. 9:25. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2018.00025
Received
03 November 2017
Accepted
08 January 2018
Published
30 January 2018
Volume
9 - 2018
Edited by
John Hancock, University of the West of England, United Kingdom
Reviewed by
Olivier Hamant, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, France; Ali Mobasheri, University of Surrey, United Kingdom
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© 2018 Jung, Kim, Kim, Jeong and Ryu.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Choong-Min Ryu, cmryu@kribb.re.kr Mi-Jeong Jeong, center1097@korea.kr
This article was submitted to Plant Physiology, a section of the journal Frontiers in Plant Science
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