Glowing Seeds

Abstract

The project's objective was to learn if radiation had an effect on the germination, growth rate, and overall development of flowering plants. Three types of seeds: Helianthus annuus, sunflower, Exigeron philadephicus, daisy, and Exigeron philadephicus, baby’s breath were purchased according to their size and growing time. Each seed variety was counted in units of twelve, placed in envelopes, and marked as to the type of seed and radiation exposure time and amount: Control, Group A, Group B, and Group C. These were saturated with a waterlogged sponge to promote germination. The seeds were taken to Muskogee Regional Medical Center’s Radiation Department. The seeds were radiated at Control Group--0 centi gray, Group A, 50 centi gray for .11 seconds, Group B, 100 centi gray for .23 seconds, and Group C, 500 centi gray for 1.21 seconds. The seeds were planted in individual clay pots, labeled, and watered. Grow lights were used for at least eight hours per day to maintain the same conditions; temperature, water, and light. Daily, the number and height of each seedling was recorded in a journal and pictures were taken.

Growing time was three weeks with results recorded. The experiment was completed five more times. An overall evaluation using the six experiments was compiled. For all seed varieties the Control Group experienced a 39% germination rate. Group A experienced a 21% germination rate. Group B experienced a 21% germination rate. Group C experienced a 10% germination growth rate. The overall height of each seed variety was less in Group C compared to the other groups. The findings showed major effects that the radiation had on the germination, overall growth, and development of the plants.

Introduction

The question, “is the effect of radiation on the germination, growth rate, and overall development of flowering plants,” was selected as the research topic. The reason for this study included the curiosity of the effects of radiation on living things. Through prior knowledge on this subject, I believed radiation would have a major effect on the plants.

In researching this project on the Internet, not many other similar studies were found. Gregory Johann Mendel, who was also known as the father of Heredity, learned of many rules for heredity by experimenting with pea plants during the mid 1800s. Mendel later published a book in 1865 called Mendel’s Law. He did not describe inheritance, he described change. Mendel tried to understand the patterns of the differences between the parents and their offspring. Mendel also found that many genes arranged in a very exact order or pattern. One of the other more closer related projects was completed by Hermann Muller who worked with hundreds of irradiated fruit flies. Muller worked with the offspring and traced the mutations of later generations. He won the Nobel Prize in 1946. This experiment on radiated flowering seeds has little to do with the changes in fruit fly mutation characteristics.

The results of this study indicate that radiation does, in fact, have a major negative effect on flowering plants. Therefore, with the increased dosages of radiation and exposure times the greater the negative effect on the plants. The plants with the greatest amount of radiation had the greatest negative effect. The germination process with Group C, (500 centi gray) , was slower or did not sprout as compared with the other groups. The greater the dosage, the thinner the stem. They also had a slower growth rate as compared with the other groups. The leaves were smaller and the plant did not thrive as well as those with less or no radiation. The findings showed major effects that the radiation had on the germination, growth rate, and overall development of the flowering plants.

In a continuation of this project, increased dosage exposure times and the increased number of sample sizes should be considered. Growing times should also be increased and the seeds from their parent plants should be planted to see if changes in the offspring occur.

Materials and Methods

* Muskogee Regional Medical Center's Cobalt Machine

* 6 growing trays

* 144 Helianthus annuus, sunflower, seeds

* 144 Exigeron philadephicus, daisy, seeds

* 144 Exigeron philadephicus, baby's breath, seeds

* sterilized packaged potting soil

* 72 4 inch clay pots

* water

* measuring cup

* labels

* ruler

* measuring cup

* log book

* calculator

* camera

* envelopes

* sponges

* plastic sandwich bags

* 2 General Electric 65 watt 120 volt grow lights

1. Count out four groups of twelve experimental seeds for each seed varieties; Helianthus annuus, sunflower, Erigeron philadephicus, daisy, and Gypsophila elegans, baby's breath, (forty-eight seeds of each variety - 144 seeds in all ).

2. 3Place seed groups in plastic bags with waterlogged sponges. Place each bag in an envelope and label with the seed variety and radiation exposure time for each group, Control, A, B, & C. Seeds should remain in plastic bags for four hours prior to radiation exposure.

3. Remove seeds an hour prior to radiation exposure. Place seeds back in the envelopes while radiation is applied. (The three control envelopes were placed aside while the appropriate amount of radiation was applied to the other nine envelopes.) 3

Group A Consisted of:

12 Helianthus annuus seeds, sunflower seeds, radiated at 50 centi Gray 12 Erigeron philadephicus seeds, daisy seeds, radiated at 50 centi Gray 12 Gypsophila elegans seeds, baby's breath seeds, radiated at 50 centi Gray

Group B Consisted of:

12 Helianthus annuus seeds, sunflower seeds, radiated at 100 centi Gray 12 Erigeron philadephicus seeds, daisy seeds, radiated at 100 centi Gray 12 Gypsophila elegans, baby's breath seeds, radiated at 100 centi Gray

Group C Consisted of:

12 Helianthus annuus seeds, sunflower seeds, radiatedat 500 centi Gray

12 Erigeron philadephicus seeds, daisy seeds, radiated at 500 centi Gray

12 Gypsophila elegans seeds, baby's breath seeds, radiated at 500 centi Gray

4. Plant seeds in appropriately labeled clay flower pot.

5. Water each pot with 1/4 cup water.

6. Place all pots under two General Electric 65 watt 120 volt grow lights.

7. Check seeds daily and water plants as needed, (all plants should receive the same amount of water each time).

8. Record observations in a log book.

9. Repeat processes #1 through #9 five more times.

Results: Trial 1

The percentage of germination growth was found by dividing the total number of sprouts by the total number of seeds planted. The height in centimeters was determined by measuring the height of the tallest seedling.

Percentage of Germination Rate and Height of Tallest Flowering Plant

Sunflower

Daisy

Baby's Breath

Control

**The sunflower's Control Group, which had no radiation, experienced a 58% germination growth rate. The sunflower's Group A, radiated at 50 centi Gray, experienced a 50% germination growth rate. The sunflower's Group B, radiated at 100 centi Gray, experienced a 50% germination growth rate. The sunflower's Group C, radiated at 500 centi Gray, experienced a 58% germination growth rate. The baby's breath's Control Group, which had no radiation, experienced a 33% germination growth rate. The baby's breath's Group A, radiated at 50 centi Gray, experienced a 50% germination growth rate. The baby's breath's Group B, radiated at 100 centi Gray, experienced a 50% germination growth rate. The baby's breath's Group C, radiated at 500 centi Gray, experienced a 58% germination growth rate. The daisy's Control Group, which had no radiation, experienced a 58% germination growth rate. The daisy's Group A, radiated at 50 centi Gray, experienced a 50% germination growth rate. The daisy's Group B, radiated at 100 centi Gray, experienced a 50% germination growth rate. The daisy's Group C, radiated at 500 centi Gray, experienced a 58% germination growth rate. The overall height of each seed variety was less in Group C when compared to the other groups except in the sunflower.

**Explanation of Table

Results: Trial 2

Percentage of Germination Rate and Height of Tallest Flowering Plant

Sunflower

Daisy

Baby's Breath

Control

**The sunflower's Control Group, which had no radiation, experienced a 25% germination growth rate. The sunflower's Group A, radiated at 50 centi Gray, experienced a 42% germination growth rate. The sunflower's Group B, radiated at 100 centi Gray, experienced a 33% germination growth rate. The sunflower's Group C, radiated at 500 centi Gray, experienced a 25% germination growth rate. The baby's breath's Control Group, which had no radiation, experienced a 50% germination growth rate. The baby's breath's Group A, radiated at 50 centi Gray, experienced a 8% germination growth rate. The baby's breath's Group B, radiated at 100 centi Gray, experienced a 8% germination growth rate. The baby's breath's Group C, radiated at 500 centi Gray, experienced a 0% germination growth rate. The daisy's Control Group, which had no radiation, experienced a 58% germination growth rate. The daisy's Group A, radiated at 50 centi Gray, experienced a 17% germination growth rate. The daisy's Group B, radiated at 100 centi gray, experienced a 0% germination growth rate. The daisy's Group C, radiated at 500 centi Gray, experienced a 0% germination growth rate. The overall height of each seed variety was less in Group C when compared to the other groups.

**Explanation of Table

Results: Trial 3

Percentage of Germination Rate and Height of Tallest Flowering Plant

Sunflower

Daisy

Baby's Breath

Control