Plant Growth Lab Report

Plant Growth Lab Report

Alberto Espinoza
Mr. Schmidt
Honors Biology
11 June 2014
Plant Growth Experiment
Abstract: The rate of photosynthesis in the bean mug plant was investigated to determine that the longer the plant is exposed to sunlight the faster the plant grew until it reached its full length. Each separate plant was given different number of days exposed to the sun, and the length was calculated and compared to an average bean growth to see whether there was a significant increase or decrease in growth. There was a significant difference between our plants and the average plant, but only for those who had exposure to longer time on the sunlight. The rate of photosynthesis increased as the exposure of sunlight increased.
Background: The purpose of this experiment is to determine how fast photosynthesis occurs due the amount of days given in sunlight when compared to average growth on bean mug seeds. The process of photosynthesis is divided into two main parts: light dependent reactions and the dark reactions. The light dependent reaction happens when solar energy is caught to make a molecule called ATP. ATP is produced by cellular respiration in the mitochondria and photosynthesis in chloroplast. The dark reaction happens when the ATP is used to make glucose (the Calvin Cycle). In plants, photosynthesis occurs in the leaves. This is where plants can get the raw materials for photosynthesis all in one convenient location. Carbon dioxide and oxygen enter/exit the leaves through pores called stomata. Water is delivered to the leaves from the roots through a vascular system. The chlorophyll in the chloroplasts inside leaf cells absorbs sunlight. (Woledge, J.W. 1970). In American Journal of Botany, it was determined that the intensity and temperature of light on a plant increases the growth because it increases the speed of photosynthesis in its chloroplast. In Ingham et al, R.E.I. Ecological Monograph, it was concluded that adding bacteria and fungi had plants feeding in...

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