Do Plants Grow Taller If They Listen to Music?
It's an often debated subject: do plants benefit from a gardener playing music to them? Evidence to date suggests that plants do respond in growth to the stimuli of voice and music. Does this Spark an idea?
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Where It Began
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In 1848 Gustav Fechner, a German professor, published "Soul-Life of Plants," claiming that plants could benefit from conversations. Since then, several books, experiments and even an album have been created on the subject.
Good Vibrations
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One theory suggests the vibration or frequency of music acts similar to the effect of wind on the plant. Growth response to vibration usually involves a shortening and thickening of the plant shaft rather than increased height, which would be detrimental in windy conditions.
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Ears to Hear
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Korean scientists playing Beethoven to fields of crops recently discovered a gene in plants that allows them to hear after this treatment. That is to say, the genes detect and are activated at certain frequencies. The scientists believe that by using this method they can control anything from flowering times to growth rates in the plants.
Conclusions
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Most of the evidence available suggests that there is a positive relation between plant growth and sound, and recent research suggests that changes are triggered by frequencies. Although not an entirely efficient means of boosting plant height, it is an entertaining one for the plants and the gardener.
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References
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