Stimulating a monotonous sound has been shown to activate a fungus that enhances plant growth, according to a study, suggesting that playing music could benefit crops and gardens.
The effectiveness of playing Mozart to help plants grow has been a topic of scientific debate for a long time. The TV show “MythBusters” even tested this by exposing plants to death metal and classical music, finding that they grew slightly better than those in silence, but ultimately deeming the results inconclusive.
With the plant world facing various human-driven challenges like erosion, deforestation, and pollution, there is growing concern about the future of biodiversity and crops.
In a recent study published in Biology Letters, it was noted that “the potential of acoustic stimulation in supporting ecosystem recovery and sustainable food systems has not been fully explored.”
Based on previous research involving E. coli bacteria and sound waves, a team of Australian researchers investigated the impact of sound on the growth and spore production of the fungus Trichoderma harzianum.
This fungus is commonly used in organic farming for its ability to protect plants from pathogens, enrich soil nutrients, and promote growth.
The researchers created sound booths to contain Petri dishes filled with fungi.
Instead of playing popular music, they used the sound of “Tinnitus Flosser Masker at 8 kHz,” which is available in white noise videos on YouTube meant for relieving tinnitus or aiding baby sleep.
Lead study author Jake Robinson from Flinders University explained, “We opted for this monotone sound for controlled experimentation, but it’s possible that a more diverse or natural soundscape could be more effective. Further research is needed.”
Sound Garden
The fungi in the Petri dishes were subjected to this sound at a certain decibel level for half an hour each day.
After five days, the fungi that were exposed to the sound exhibited higher growth and spore production compared to those in silence.
While not conclusive, the researchers proposed some possible reasons for this observation.
One theory involves the conversion of acoustic waves into an electrical charge that stimulates the fungi through the piezoelectric effect.
Another theory suggests that mechanoreceptors on the fungi’s membranes play a role in responding to sound waves similar to human skin mechanoreceptors that sense touch through pressure or vibration.
“Our initial findings suggest that fungi respond to sound, but we are yet to determine if this benefits plants. That’s our next focus,” Robinson added.
He raised questions about influencing soil or plant microbial communities as a whole, expediting soil restoration with natural sounds, and the impact on soil fauna.
“There are numerous crucial questions to keep us engaged,” he concluded.
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Emil Kovács graduated from the Journalism program at Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary. During his journalism studies, he focused on data journalism, investigative reporting, and multimedia storytelling. He gained experience by writing for the university’s student newspaper, where he gained attention for his articles on social issues. After graduation, Emil began working as a reporter at a European news agency, where he conducts in-depth analyses of international news and current events.
