Do plants listen to music? How do they respond?

What has the latest research into this evergreen question shown?

First, the obvious: plants have neither ears nor brains, so how can they appreciate music as we do? Thanks to a series of recent studies, we now know that they can not only detect vibrations in their environment, they can also alter their behaviour based on the information they receive.

In one study, a mustard family plant, exposed to the sound of caterpillars chewing produced higher levels of bitter toxins, which the plant uses as defence. Remarkably, these plants even distinguish the vibrations of leaf munchers from or those of wind or insect mating calls, even when these were a similar frequency, activating defences only when faced with a threat. According to the California Learning Resource Network, the germination of a plant seed is affected when sound is heard (sonic stimulation). Interestingly, the specific frequency range increases water uptake and seed metabolism. Natural sounds, for example the frequency range of soothing tones and classical music, with well-defined sound notes, seem to affect gene expression and hormone regulation. In contrast, dissonant sounds such as explosives, crackers, and bombs retard seed growth. 

Phyto-acoustics

An article in Yale Environmental Review on September 20, 2024, pointed out that using music to enhance crop growth is fascinating as well as crucial for a future that requires sustainable agriculture to support a growing population and reduce environmental harm. In 2020, the plant scientists You-Ning Lal and How-Chiun Wu from the National University of Taiwan studied the effects of different types of music on the germination and seedling growth of the plants alfalfa and lettuce. Specifically, they examined the effects of a variety of music, including Gregorian chants, Baroque, classical, jazz, rock, and nature sounds, on the germination of alfalfa and lettuce seeds. The lettuce was seen to prefer Gregorian chants and waltz while alfalfa seemed to prefer nature sounds.

According to Pistils Nursery in the US, the effects of the types of sound, whether music or noise, and varying its frequency and wavelength affected the growth of cluster bean seeds in its germination size and quantity.

Some groups in India have also studied the phyto-acoustics of plants. In 2014, V. Chivukula and S. Ramaswamy reported the effect of music on the rose plant, and that the plant preferred Vedic chants rather than jazz for taller growth, in the International Journal of Environmental Science and Development. In 2015, A.R. Chowdhury and A. Gupta reported playing light classical and meditation music to marigold (genda) and chickpea (chana) plants and  the plants growing taller and stronger than when no music was played. And in 2022, K.R. Shivanna of the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment, Bengaluru, in a review in the Journal of the Indian Botanical Society in 2022, highlighted these aspects of psychoacoustics and also mentioned the work of J.C. Bose. 

So during Deepavali and Holi, let us not blast too many crackers. Plant life is hindered. Instead play soothing music in your gardens and farms, and the plants will grow better.

dbala@lvpei.org