Seed germination - Lab Results

How is the Germination of a Seed Affected by Sunlight?

This lab allowed students to grow green bean seeds as well as grass seeds under certain conditions to determine how these conditions would impact their germination rates. For our seeds, we had decided to experiment with sunlight by keeping the experimental group of seeds in direct sunlight and how this factor would impact our seeds' growth. Part way through the lab (on day 8) our green beans had not shown any growth in both the control and experimental group, they only showed the development of a slimy and slightly cloudy coloured coating which had smelled quite pungent. A reason as to why this may have happened could be because the conditions in which the seed was growing in was not suited for the conditions that the green beans needed to grow. These conditions may have suited the grass seeds, which had successfully germinated, but had been majorly unsuccessful for other species with different genes.

(Link to data tables)

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1)  By the end of this seed germination lab, it was found that both types of seeds involved in this experiment had similar results. In the sense that only the grass seeds had germinated, whereas the green beans had made no progress over the period of time given. In both the experimental and control group, the grass seeds had grown significantly long, being nearly similar in length. However upon further observation of the seeds, the experimental group’s sprout appeared to be much thicker and greener than the control group which had been growing inside a dark drawer rather than in direct sunlight.

2) In short, monocots have only 1 cotyledon, parallel leaf veins, scattered vascular bundles, a fibrous root system, and have petals growing in multiples of 3. Dicots on the other hand have 2 cotyledons, net-like leaf veins, vascular bundles arranged in a ring, have a main root, and has petals growing in groups of 4 or 5. These grass seeds are  monocot, as they only have one cotyledon and have parallel leaf veins seen on the grass blades. 

3) For the control group (omitting the green beans), Day 6 had shown the largest amount of growth starting at 0.7 cm and growing up to 3.4 cm. For the experimental group (omitting the green beans), Day 14 had shown the largest amount of growth starting at 5.5 cm and growing up to 8.0 cm.

4) Though both of the grass seeds were the same species and put in the same conditions as it's pair, it was noticed that one had grown significantly larger than the other at a much faster pace. This may happen because of a variation in the seeds' genetics. These genetic traits which these seeds carry impact whether or not these seeds survive as well as how they grow. One seed's genes may allow it to grow much better in darker areas, whereas another seed may prefer the sunlight. So despite being grown in the same conditions, the genes of a plant ultimately determine their growth pattern.