The Effects of Sound Stimulation on Allium cepa Root Growth

摘要

The effects of sound stimulation on mitosis, the extent of mitotic activity, and thecharacteristics of chromosomes and nuclei during mitosis in Allium cepa (onion) root tips were studied.Growing chambers were designed to allow one group of onion roots to grow withregular exposure tosound at afrequency of 5,000 Hz and an intensity of 75.9 dB. Another group of onions weregrown without sound stimulation and served as the controlgroup. It was shownthat exposure tosound had adverse effects on Allium cepa root growth and mitotic activity. Sound-stimulatedonions grew fewer and shorter roots and retained less mass. Analysis of mitotic abnormalitiesfound in sound-stimulated root cells showed that sound exposure interfered with normalchromosome activity during mitosis, suggesting mitotic instability.