Phytoacoustics - Plants can perceive ambient sound and respond

Abstract

Responses of plants to a number of environmental stimuli such as light, gravity, and touch have been well investigated. However, response of plants to the sound remained doubtful for a long time. Anumber of recent studies have confirmed that plants do respond to sound vibrations of different intensities and combinations. They respond to the chewing sound of specific herbivores, sound of the pollinators and sound vibrations produced by moving water. Evidences have also been reported to indicate the ability of stressed plants to emit airborne sound. These recent studies indicate that plants, although sedentary without nervous system, have evolved, just like animals, to communicate with their environment in an ecologically meaningful manner.