Plants Store Food Investigation
Objective
TLW investigate where food is stored in plants by using produce provided by the teacher or students.
Activate Prior Knowledge
Within plants, sugar made during photosynthesis converts to starch which is stored in various parts
of the plant. When consumers eat the plant, they digest the stored starch and the body changes it
back to sugar. The cells use it for energy to drive all life processes. Iodine is an indicator to find
starch and it turns dark blue/purple when starch is present. This change of color shows the presence
of starch that is stored in that part of the plant.
Directions
Take a small piece of produce and place a few drops of iodine on an exposed tissue area of the produce.
Does it turn dark blue/purple? Is starch present?
Did iodine turn it
dark?
Is starch present?
Is food stored in this
part of the plant?
Seed of the Plant
Corn
Lima Beans
____________
____________
____________
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Stem of the Plant
Celery
Asparagus (bottom)
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____________
____________
____________
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Root of the Plant
Carrots
Potato
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____________
____________
____________
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____________
Leaf of the Plant
Lettuce
Spinach
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____________
____________
____________
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____________
Flower of the Plant
Califlower
Broccoli
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____________
____________
____________
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Fruit of the Plant
Green Pepper
Tomato
____________
____________
____________
____________
____________
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Bulb of the Plant
Onion
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____________
____________
Plant Part
Essay
From your observations above, where do plants store the greatest concentration of food? Use examples
from your investigation chart to justify your answer. Use a separate paper for your response.
KC 4 Science
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