Wisconsin Fast Plant Temperature
That was fast:
The influence of light intensity on the growth and development of Wisconsin Fast Plants
Introduction It is common knowledge that plants need light to grow and develop. This is done by the conversion of light energy into usable sugars during photosynthesis. Light absorbing molecules, known as pigments, absorb only specific wavelengths of visible light, mostly blue and red wavelengths (1). Whatever wavelength isn’t absorbed is reflected and the reflection is the color of plant we see. Plants also respond to wavelengths of light in non-photosynthetic related responses allowing them to adjust to their environment for optimal growth and development. For example, some seeds will wait to germinate once they receive sufficient …show more content…
Inside each petri dish a paper towel was folded to the size of the dish and saturated with tap water. After saturation, two WFP seeds were added to each petri dish. The dishes were then labeled for their assigned light condition, which was either full fluorescent light exposure or darkness. Plants were left under their assigned light condition for twenty-four hours a day, for seven days and watered daily. After seven days, plants were retrieved from their environment and stem length, plant mass, and cotyledon mass were all measured and recorded.
Results
Over the course of one week, the stem lengths of the plants grown with dim lighting were considerably longer than those grown in full light (Figure 1). The means of the two groups were compared using an unpaired t-test (Mean full light= 2.86cm, Mean dim light= 4.68cm, p<0.0001). The cotyledon mass of the fast plant grown in full florescent light more than doubled the mass of the plant grown in dim lighting. …show more content…
Stems grown under dim light showed significant growth compared to stems grown under full fluorescent light. This response was expected, as it is a common adaption for etiolation. In etiolation, the hypocotyl and stem begin to elongate due to hormones auxin and brassionosteroid and will continue to do so until the activation of phytochromes (3). This strategy maximizes the chances of a seedling to rapidly reach sunlight, activating phytochromes, and initiate de-etiolation (2). Also seen in de-etiolation is cotyledon expansion, which was also observed in the experiment. Cotyledon masses of plants grown in full light nearly doubled cotyledons grown in a dimly lit area. This reduction in cotyledon mass is due to the redirection of energy to the hypocotyl and stem in etiolation
The influence of light intensity on the growth and development of Wisconsin Fast Plants
Introduction It is common knowledge that plants need light to grow and develop. This is done by the conversion of light energy into usable sugars during photosynthesis. Light absorbing molecules, known as pigments, absorb only specific wavelengths of visible light, mostly blue and red wavelengths (1). Whatever wavelength isn’t absorbed is reflected and the reflection is the color of plant we see. Plants also respond to wavelengths of light in non-photosynthetic related responses allowing them to adjust to their environment for optimal growth and development. For example, some seeds will wait to germinate once they receive sufficient …show more content…
Inside each petri dish a paper towel was folded to the size of the dish and saturated with tap water. After saturation, two WFP seeds were added to each petri dish. The dishes were then labeled for their assigned light condition, which was either full fluorescent light exposure or darkness. Plants were left under their assigned light condition for twenty-four hours a day, for seven days and watered daily. After seven days, plants were retrieved from their environment and stem length, plant mass, and cotyledon mass were all measured and recorded.
Results
Over the course of one week, the stem lengths of the plants grown with dim lighting were considerably longer than those grown in full light (Figure 1). The means of the two groups were compared using an unpaired t-test (Mean full light= 2.86cm, Mean dim light= 4.68cm, p<0.0001). The cotyledon mass of the fast plant grown in full florescent light more than doubled the mass of the plant grown in dim lighting. …show more content…
Stems grown under dim light showed significant growth compared to stems grown under full fluorescent light. This response was expected, as it is a common adaption for etiolation. In etiolation, the hypocotyl and stem begin to elongate due to hormones auxin and brassionosteroid and will continue to do so until the activation of phytochromes (3). This strategy maximizes the chances of a seedling to rapidly reach sunlight, activating phytochromes, and initiate de-etiolation (2). Also seen in de-etiolation is cotyledon expansion, which was also observed in the experiment. Cotyledon masses of plants grown in full light nearly doubled cotyledons grown in a dimly lit area. This reduction in cotyledon mass is due to the redirection of energy to the hypocotyl and stem in etiolation