The Effect of Uv-C Light on the Growth and Development of Brassica Rapa Seedlings
ABSTRACT: By exposing Brassica rapa seedlings to UV-C light, the effect of the growth and development of Brassica rapa seedlings was tested. The experimental group of Brassica rapa seedlings was exposed to 254 nm UV-C light for thirty seconds after one week of growth. Throughout the duration of one month, the height, number of leaves and stem diameter were measured sporadically. After one month, the biomass of the seedlings was recorded. A starch analysis test was also performed. According to the results, the stem diameter of the experimental group exposed to the ultraviolet light was significantly smaller than that of the control group exposed to full spectrum light. The number of leaves, height, biomass and the starch production were unaffected by the ultraviolet light exposure.
INTRODUCTION: In this experiment, Brassica rapa, Wisconsin Fast Plants, were grown and examined during their full lifecycle of twenty-eight days. The growth rate is important to the fitness in evolution of competitive interactions for the Brassica rapa plant. Brassica rapa are members of the crucifer family plants, which is close to cabbage and broccoli (4). These plants are fast cycling plants, so once they are planted, they begin to germinate and grow two days later. By the fourteenth day, they already have yellow flowers. After a month or so they begin to wilt and die, but they still have seed embryos that are waiting to start a new cycle (4). Light is necessary for plant growth because they use the energy received from light to synthesize its own food, glucose, in a process called photosynthesis. Sunlight supplies all different wavelengths, which are broken up into red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Plants will absorb a color from the sunlight but transmit or reflect another (2). Plants use sunlight in photosynthesis and are therefore exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation that is present in sunlight. UV radiation is divided into three classes: UV-C, UV-B, and
INTRODUCTION: In this experiment, Brassica rapa, Wisconsin Fast Plants, were grown and examined during their full lifecycle of twenty-eight days. The growth rate is important to the fitness in evolution of competitive interactions for the Brassica rapa plant. Brassica rapa are members of the crucifer family plants, which is close to cabbage and broccoli (4). These plants are fast cycling plants, so once they are planted, they begin to germinate and grow two days later. By the fourteenth day, they already have yellow flowers. After a month or so they begin to wilt and die, but they still have seed embryos that are waiting to start a new cycle (4). Light is necessary for plant growth because they use the energy received from light to synthesize its own food, glucose, in a process called photosynthesis. Sunlight supplies all different wavelengths, which are broken up into red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Plants will absorb a color from the sunlight but transmit or reflect another (2). Plants use sunlight in photosynthesis and are therefore exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation that is present in sunlight. UV radiation is divided into three classes: UV-C, UV-B, and
References: 1. Fairfield University General Biology II Laboratory Manual. Symbiosis. New York: Pearson, 2011. Print. 2. Freeman, Scott. "Photosynthesis." Biological Science. 4th ed.172-90. Print. 3. Stapleton, Ann E. "Ultraviolet Radiation and Plants: Burning Questions." The Plant Cell 4 (1992): 1353-358. Print. 4. University of Wisconsin. "Fast Plant Life Cycle." Wisconsin Fast Plants. Web. 16 Mar. 2011. <http://www.fastplants.org/intro.lifecycle.php>.