The Pathways of Plant Water Movement
Experiment 6- The Pathways of Plant Water Movement
Aim: To investigate the movement of materials in xylem
Materials:
Fresh celery stalk with leaves
Eosin solution (1%)
A plastic container with tap water
A sharp scalpel
Hand lens
A light microscope
Two glass slides
A cover slip
Risk Assessment and Safety Precautions:
Risk Assessment Safety Precautions
Eosin solution- can cause stains Always use gloves when handling
Scalpel is dangerous and can cause cuts Always handle carefully, with blade facing down. Be especially careful when walking with a scalpel.
Glassware can break easily Be careful with all glassware. If cut, wash with water and seek advice to avoid infection.
Method:
1. Obtain a fresh celery stalk and used a sharp scalpel to make a 45 degree angle cut under water, to prevent the air bubbles from blocking the xylem. Immediately placed the celery stalk in eosin solution and left it overnight.
2. Removed celery stalk from the eosin solution and used a scalpel to cut a very thin, transverse section of the celery stem.
3. Placed the thin sample on a clean slide and covered it with a cover slip. Observed the sample under high magnification using a light microscope.
4. Drew the observation under a high power.
5. Located one vascular bundle and peeled it longitudinally in the stained region. Made a wet mount of the longitudinal tissue and observed it under a microscope.
Results:
Transverse (Low): Transverse (High):
X40 X400
Longitudinal (High): X400
Questions/ Discussion:
1) What general stem structures were stained? What tissues in these structures were most heavily stained?
The general stem structures stained were the cell walls of the xylem. The base of the celery stem was most heavily stained.
2) What statement can you make regarding the transpirational pathway of water in a plant?
Even root distribution is important for both water and nutrient
Aim: To investigate the movement of materials in xylem
Materials:
Fresh celery stalk with leaves
Eosin solution (1%)
A plastic container with tap water
A sharp scalpel
Hand lens
A light microscope
Two glass slides
A cover slip
Risk Assessment and Safety Precautions:
Risk Assessment Safety Precautions
Eosin solution- can cause stains Always use gloves when handling
Scalpel is dangerous and can cause cuts Always handle carefully, with blade facing down. Be especially careful when walking with a scalpel.
Glassware can break easily Be careful with all glassware. If cut, wash with water and seek advice to avoid infection.
Method:
1. Obtain a fresh celery stalk and used a sharp scalpel to make a 45 degree angle cut under water, to prevent the air bubbles from blocking the xylem. Immediately placed the celery stalk in eosin solution and left it overnight.
2. Removed celery stalk from the eosin solution and used a scalpel to cut a very thin, transverse section of the celery stem.
3. Placed the thin sample on a clean slide and covered it with a cover slip. Observed the sample under high magnification using a light microscope.
4. Drew the observation under a high power.
5. Located one vascular bundle and peeled it longitudinally in the stained region. Made a wet mount of the longitudinal tissue and observed it under a microscope.
Results:
Transverse (Low): Transverse (High):
X40 X400
Longitudinal (High): X400
Questions/ Discussion:
1) What general stem structures were stained? What tissues in these structures were most heavily stained?
The general stem structures stained were the cell walls of the xylem. The base of the celery stem was most heavily stained.
2) What statement can you make regarding the transpirational pathway of water in a plant?
Even root distribution is important for both water and nutrient