I. Title
The Effect of Light on Seed Germination
II. Introduction
Biology is the study of life. In order for life to be existent on
Earth, oxygen is an essential. So if one studies life, they must also study the manner of
keeping life in continuance. This means oxygen. The main supplier of oxygen is a plant.
But where do plants come from? A plants comes from a seed, which in order to become
a plant, must undergo many steps on the way. I have observed these steps, all the way
from a seed in the dirt, to a flourishing sprout.
The step that comes with much importance is identified as germination.
Germination is the process in which an autotroph emerges from a seed, and in turn begins
growth. The rate of germination depends on many factors; such as temperature, water,
oxygen, and especially light. Light is the capital component in the process of
photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the process in which sugars and oxygen are produced.
Without this process, there would certainly be no ascertainable life on Earth.
Germinating in a seed has many things involved in it. One of the most important
things is the cotyledons. These give the seed energy while it is still in the dirt, and unable
to progress with photosynthesis. But, eventually the cotyledons run out, and when they
do the plant must be able to perform photosynthesis, otherwise the plant has no energy,
which is not good.
The equation for photosynthesis is: 6CO2 + 6H20 +nutrients  C6H1206 + 6O2.
The plant needs Carbon Dioxide, water, and nutrients in order for glucose and oxygen to
be produced. The plant then takes the glucose and oxygen, and uses it for cellular
respiration. In cellular respiration, the plant converts glucose and oxygen into Adenosine
Triphosphate, (ATP) which is the only type of energy that the plant can use. Every single
thing a plant does requires energy, that is why it is vital for plants to undergo
photosynthesis and cellular respiration.
III. Problem
What effect does the amount of light have on seed
germination and plant growth?
IV. Hypothesis
If a plant has light, then the seed germination and plant growth will
be ravishingly flourished.
V. Procedure
1. First, in order to start the experiment, I get my materials. Which are the following:
a. Soil
b. 2 pots
c. 8 pinto beans
d. water
e. light source
f. dark place
2. Next, I fill each pot with soil, and put 4 seeds in each one.
3. After that has been accomplished, I put one pot in a place where it is constantly sunny
and bright, and the other one in a rarely opened dark closet.
4. Once a day after that, I will go to each plant and water each plant the exact same
amount. While doing this, I will also check for any growth, and will record it if there has
been any progression.
5. I will keep this up for exactly 25 days.
VI. Data
Bean Growth in Darkness Versus Light
45
Growth in Centimeters
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
Days
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Dark a 0
1 3 5 8 10 15 18 20 32 33 34 36 36 37 39 40 40 41 42
Dark b 0
1 3 5 8 10 14 17 20 32 32 33 35 36 37 38 39 39 39 39
Light A 0
1 2 3 5 4 6 7 7 7 7 7
Light C 0
1 2 5 7 9 11 13 16 17 19 19 19 20
Light D 0
1 4 8 12 14 17 20 20 21 21 22 22 23 23 24 24 28
VII. Results
In the end, it was the plants in the dark who prevailed in the battle to
reach the sky. But, they were leafless, yellow and gross. The plants who actually
underwent photosynthesis had leaves, were green and healthy. They were obviously the
better plants. For some reason, the tow dark plants that actually grew, were pretty much
the same the whole way through. I have no way to explain this except by maybe a mere
coincidence.
As the experiment progressed, I had already knew that the dark plants would be
taller (Matt told me when he found out I was doing this)
VIII. Conclusion
I find my earlier stated hypothesis to be correct. It stated that the
plant with access to photosynthesis will grow healthier than the plant in the dark. Well, it
did. And you thought I was going to have to admit to defeat.
In this experiment “growth” has two definitions. One: how tall the plant will end
up being. Two: how healthy the plant grew to be. So I shall answer both. The light had
a negative effect on how tall the plant would be, but it had a positive effect on how
healthy the plant ended up being.
Overall, the plant in the light ended up being better. Sorry dark, but after all,
everyone likes the lighter side eh?