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Is There a Role for Sound in Plants?
Filippo Del Stabile1, Vittoria Marsili1, Luca Forti1
1Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy.
Plants (Basel, Switzerland)
|September 23, 2022
Summary
Plants perceive and emit sounds, challenging their passive image. This acoustic communication may reveal plant hydration status, offering agricultural water-saving applications.
Area of Science:
- Plant biology
- Bioacoustics
- Plant physiology
Background:
- Traditional view of plants as passive organisms is outdated.
- Plants actively perceive and respond to environmental stimuli.
- Plant communication occurs via mycorrhizal networks and volatile organic compounds.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current knowledge on plant acoustic perception and communication.
- To explore the ecological and technological implications of plant sounds.
- To highlight sound emission as a frontier in plant science.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing scientific literature on plant bioacoustics.
- Analysis of studies on sound perception and emission in plants.
- Exploration of potential applications of acoustic monitoring in agriculture.
Main Results:
- Plants respond to acoustic stimuli.
- Plants emit sounds, particularly from roots and xylem.
- These sounds may convey ecological information, such as plant hydration status.
Conclusions:
- Plant acoustic perception and communication represent a significant area of ongoing research.
- Plant-emitted sounds offer potential for non-invasive monitoring of crop hydration.
- Understanding plant bioacoustics can lead to advancements in agricultural water management and technology.
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