SEED GERMINATION & ROOT /SHOOT RATIOS
Purpose
1) To compare the germination success and rates of growth of a
variety of seed types
2) To examine the relationship between shoot mass and root mass, as
measured by using desiccated biomass
Procedure
1) prepare seed cups as shown. Place 5 ( FIVE) of each seed in a single
cup.
2) prepare TWO cups of EACH type ( Label them XX – A ( ST) )
3) water and place on ledge
Procedure part 2
1) Record the % germination of each seed type on the table
SEED GERMINATION TABLE 1 Seed type
Day
1. Corn
2. Kidney ( L or D )
3.
4.
5.
6.

see class data table
# germinated
2) Measure and record the LONGEST ROOT LENGTH and TALLEST
shoot height of each of the varieties
Seed type
1
TALLEST SHOOT
LONGEST ROOT
2
3
4
5
6
3) Use a scalpel or scissors to cut the shoots at the base. Record the
mass of all the shoots of each cup using the centigram balance, to
the NEAREST 0.01 gram. Record the mass of the root bundle of all
the roots for each cup to the nearest 0.01g.
Seed type & # of
shoots
1
2
3
4
5
6
Shoot mass ( total)
Root Mass ( Total)
4) Find the ratio of FRESH SHOOT/ FRESH ROOT ( e.g. 1.23/3.47 = 0.31)
record the masses and ratios on the table below
FRESH SHOOT MASS(
avg)
FRESH ROOT MASS (
AVG)
RATIO ( S/R)
1
2
3
4
5
6
5) Place the shoots and roots in the container and put into the
incubator for 24 hours. Repeat the measurements from step 4 and
record below
DRY SHOOT
BIOMASS
DRY ROOT
BIOMASS
ROOT / SHOOT
RATIO
Answer the analysis questions provided. USE CLASS DATA FOR YOUR
ANALYSIS.
ANALYSIS
1. Calculate the ratio of the ROOTS / SHOOTS for each bean type as
{Dry Weight Roots / Fresh weight roots }
{Dry Weight Shoots / Fresh Weight Shoots}
= INDEX VALUE for Root / Shoot Ratio
Index
value
Seed 1
Seed 2
Seed 3
Seed 4
Seed 5
2. These will be used to generate a class data table. Graph the
CLASS DATA and YOIR DATA on a bar graph ( either one or two
graphs)
As “ ROOT / SHOOT RATIO INDEX VALUES FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF
BEANS”
QUESTIONS:
1. What does a ratio of > 1.0 indicate? What about a ratio of <1.0?
Explain.
2. Which seed type had the highest Root / Shoot ratio. Was this true
for both your results and the class data? What does this indicate?
3. How did your Fresh Weight results compare to your Dry Weights?
Did some bean types lose more water than others? Why do we use
DRY weights?
4. Look at the class data for germination types. Graph the results.
Which seed type had the highest germination rates? Which had the
lowest?
5. Is there any correlation between germination rates and R/S
ratios? Would you expect there to be any?
6. a) What was the controlled variables in this experiment?
b) what was the manipulated (independent) variable?
c) what was the test ( dependent) variable?
7. What does the relative ratio of root mass to shoot mass indicate?
8. What does the relative germination rate indicate?
9. What value / use do you think this data might have? ( to
scientists/ farmers / gardeners, foresters, etc). Does this lab have
any application to the real world?