LAB # 11
SKILL ASSESSED: ORR
Date:
TITLE: GERMINATION
AIM: To investigate growth of a radicle
APPARATUS AND MATERIALS: Cup, peas, water, hand towel
METHOD:
1. Soak 4 peas in water overnight
2. Line a beaker with a hand towel two to three layers thick. Ensuring the paper touches the
base of the beaker
3. Place the peas, equal distance apart, between the paper and the beaker, with the hilum facing
down.
4. Add about 2 cm depth of water to the beaker
5. Place the beaker in an undisturbed area and check on it occasionally, ensuring water does not
dry out.
6. When the radicles emerge, carefully remove the seeds and measure their length.
7. Measure the length of the radicles once a day, for the next 6 days.
8. Record your measurements in a table.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
What is germination?
Germination is the process by which a seed sprouts and begins to grow into a new plant.
Summarise the activities that take place in the seed during germination.
1. Water absorption: The seed absorbs water, causing it to swell and activate various
enzymes that break down stored nutrients.
2. Activation of enzymes: Enzymes within the seed are activated by water, initiating the
breakdown of stored food reserves, such as starch, into simpler forms that can be used by
the growing seedling.
3. Radicle emergence: The radicle, or embryonic root, emerges from the seed first,
anchoring the seedling into the soil and absorbing water and nutrients from the
environment.
4. Shoot growth: Once the radicle has emerged, the shoot begins to grow upward towards
the light, supported by the stored nutrients in the seed.
5. Photosynthesis: As the shoot grows and develops leaves, it becomes capable of
photosynthesis, producing energy for further growth and development of the seedling.
VARIABLES:
Manipulated: The manipulated variable is the duration of soaking the seeds overnight.
Responding: The responding variable in this experiment is the length of the radicle.
Controlled:
The type of seeds used
The amount of water added to the beaker
The temperature and light conditions of the environment
The placement of the seeds in the beaker
The depth at which the seeds are placed in the beaker
OBSERVATION AND RESULTS:
TABLE SHOWING THE LENGTHS OF THE RADICLES OF SOAKED BEANS
MEASURED EACH DAY FOR THE DURATION OF THE EXPERIMENT
DAY
RADICLE LENGTH(mm)
Bean 1
Bean 2
Bean 3
Bean 4
Average
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
2
3
1
1.75
3
3
4
6
4
4.25
4
4
5
10
7
6.5
5
7
7
14
11
9.75
6
8
8
15
12
10.75
TABLE SHOWING THE LENGTHS OF THE RADICLES OF UNSOAKED BEANS
MEASURED EACH DAY FOR THE DURATION OF THE EXPERIMENT
DAY
RADICLE LENGTH(mm)
Bean 1
Bean 2
Bean 3
Bean 4
Average
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
2
1
0
2
0
0.5
3
2
1
2
1
1.75
4
4
3
5
2
3.25
5
5
7
6
5
5.25
6
7
8
6
6
6.75
DISCUSSION:
The seeds were soaked overnight to initiate the germination process. The soaking also
helps to soften the seeds coat allowing water to penetrate and activate the enzymes
responsible for germination.Water was placed in the beaker to provide necessary
moisture for the germination process. It is also essential for the seeds to absorb and
activate the enzymes needed for germination to occur.The seed coating split and opened
in order for the radicle to emerge. The radicle length increased progressively each day as
the seed continued to grow. The cotyledons also started emerging from the radicle and
root hairs also started developing.
SOURCE OF ERROR:
● A source of error in this experiment could have been the quality of the seeds that were
used during the experiment.
PRECAUTIONS:
● Ensure all seeds used in experiment are of the same quality.
● Measure water added to the beaker accurately to provide consistent moisture levels for all
seeds.
● Handle seeds with caution to avoid damaging them and affecting their ability to
germinate
● Record observations accurately and consistently to track the growth of the radicle over
time.
LIMITATIONS:
● The duration of the experiment may be limited, and longer term effects on seed
germination and growth may not be fully captured
● The method of measuring radicle length may be subjective and prone to measurement
errors, affecting the accuracy of results.
● The experiment may be limited by the small sample size of seeds used, which may not be
representative of the entire population of seeds.
CONCLUSION:
● The experiment concluded by demonstrating the general increase in radicle length that
prolonged soaking durations produced, highlighting the significance of water absorption
for seed germination and early development. Although the results point to a favorable
correlation between soaking duration and radicle development, one should take sample
size and environmental conditions into account. To confirm the findings and investigate
other factors impacting seed germination for better plant propagation and agricultural
practices, more study is required.
CRITERIA FOR ASSESSMENT- ORR
OBSERVE
Table title all caps, underlined & above table
Marks
Table neatly enclosed
Numerical: physical quantities in heading, units stated in heading
Non-numerical: headings correct, details present
RECORD
Method – written in sequential order and in past tense
2 (1 mk
each)
Detailed record of observations
2
Language & Expression– few to no grammatical errors and use of
appropriate scientific terms
REPORT
Report comprehensive - written with all information under the correct
heading
Total
2
Tot al
3
1
6
2
2
2
10