Growth of pea roots exposed to pulsed ultrasound

Abstract

Studies of the growth of pea roots after exposure to pulsed ultrasound (2.3 MHz, 10 W/cm2 peak intensity) support the postulate that a cavitation‐like mechanism may be responsible in part for a decrease in the growth rate. There is a significant, although reduced, effect on growth at pulse lengths as short as 3 μsec; this observation suggests that two nonthermal mechanisms may be involved. Subject Classification: 80.40;+35.75.