Germination Conditions
This practical lesson covers:
- The conditions needs for successful germination.
Investigating successful germination conditions
Aim:
To investigate the factors needed for successful germination.
Background information:
Germination is the process by which a seed develops into a new plant, influenced by environmental factors such as temperature, moisture, and oxygen. In this practical, you will investigate how these factors affect the germination of cress seeds by experimenting with seeds in various conditions, including dry and moist environments, and under different temperature settings.
Variables:
- Independent variable - Environmental condition such as moisture level or temperature.
- Dependent variable - Number of germinated seeds.
- Control variables - Type of seeds, number of seeds per tube, duration of experiment.
Equipment:
- Boiling tubes
- Fridge
- Incubator
- Cotton wool
- Seeds (cress works well)
Method:
- Put dry cotton wool in one boiling tube.
- Place moist cotton wool in another 2 boiling tubes.
- Place boiled and cooled water with a layer of oil on top in another boiling tube.
- Add 10 cress seeds to each boiling tube.
- Place one of the boiling tubes containing moist cotton wool in the fridge.
- Place all remaining boiling tubes in the incubator and leave for a week.
- Count the number of seeds in each boiling tube that have germinated.
Which of the following environmental factors influence seed germination?
temperature
all of the above
oxygen
moisture
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In the practical, what is the independent variable?
duration of the experiment
environmental condition (moisture level or temperature)
number of germinated seeds
type of seeds
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What is the purpose of adding a layer of oil on top of the water in the boiling tubes?
to prevent oxygen from reaching the seeds
to provide moisture
to simulate a dry environment
to maintain a constant temperature
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What is the term for the process by which a seed develops into a new plant?
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