Effects of Different dB Sound Levels on The Plant Growth, Nutrient Elements Uptake and Essential Oil Yield of Mentha piperita

Abstract

Common environmental stimuli detected by living things include light, temperature and a variety of chemical signals some of which are closely related to physical-mechanical stimuli. Sound is one of the physical signals affecting plant life and the mechanism whereby plants perceive and react to sound stimuli is not currently well known. Sound waves and therefore sonication, are a form of abiotic stress for plants. Mint (Mentha piperita) is an important crop that produces volatile oils which are used extensively in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products. Mint plants (10-week-old) cv. Granada was planted in four different sound chambers and subjected to different sound conditions. The experiment was carried out for 30 days. In each chamber, spe- cific sound areas were formed by sending signals with different dB levels (95, 100 and 105 decibel (db)) together with the chosen reference value was 1000 Hertz (Hz). Plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, fresh and dry root weights and fresh and dry foliage weights were examined to evaluate the effects of different applications. In addition to the morphological data, the plant nutrient elements and essential oil yields were analyzed. Based on the results, plant height varied between 20 and 43 cm and the essential oil yield ranged between 0.76 and 2.17 %. In our study, sound applications at different SPLs affected the growth and nutrient element intake in mint plants negatively; however, at 95 dB, essential oil yields were affected positively.