The Effect Of Sodium Chloride Concentrations On Lettuce Seed Germination
Introduction
Germination is the very beginning of the plant’s life; where it transitions from being an embryo in a seed to breaking out and becoming a little stem. There are many factors that affect the germination of seeds which include the PH level of the soil, the amount of water in its environment, the amount of ATP the seed can generate in order to grow, the temperature of the environment and the amount of sunlight the seed receives (Ghaderi-Far et al., 2010). The purpose of this study was to observe the effect of different concentrations of sodium chloride have on the germination of lettuce seeds, Lactuca sativa. A study done by Katembe et al., (1998) stated that an increase in salt solution in the environment of the seed will slow down water imbibition, therefore, preventing germination and root growth. The prediction for this experiment was that lettuce seeds, Lactuca sativa, having a higher concentration of salt in their environment will have a lower germination rate than lettuce seeds, Lactuca sativa, with a water dominant environment. Materials and Methods
A stock solution of 1M sodium chloride was pipetted into 2 test tubes and diluted to 4ml of 0.25M and 0.5M solutions. The other 2 test tubes were filled with 4ml of the stock solution and 4ml of water for the control. 4 test tubes of 4ml of 2X molten agar with 2X MS salts solution were already made and sitting in a water bath. The solutions of sodium chloride and the water were poured into the four test tubes filled with the agar solution then vortexed to avoid having the gel not set properly. When the gel was set, the final concentrations were 0M, 0.125M, 0.25M, and 0.5M. 20 lettuce seeds, Lactuca sativa, were picked randomly using forceps, 5 were placed into each of the 4 test tubes and waited a week to make observations.
Results
Analysis showed a significant difference in stem and root growth between the seeds that had a salt solution in their environment and the control group. The average of the
Germination is the very beginning of the plant’s life; where it transitions from being an embryo in a seed to breaking out and becoming a little stem. There are many factors that affect the germination of seeds which include the PH level of the soil, the amount of water in its environment, the amount of ATP the seed can generate in order to grow, the temperature of the environment and the amount of sunlight the seed receives (Ghaderi-Far et al., 2010). The purpose of this study was to observe the effect of different concentrations of sodium chloride have on the germination of lettuce seeds, Lactuca sativa. A study done by Katembe et al., (1998) stated that an increase in salt solution in the environment of the seed will slow down water imbibition, therefore, preventing germination and root growth. The prediction for this experiment was that lettuce seeds, Lactuca sativa, having a higher concentration of salt in their environment will have a lower germination rate than lettuce seeds, Lactuca sativa, with a water dominant environment. Materials and Methods
A stock solution of 1M sodium chloride was pipetted into 2 test tubes and diluted to 4ml of 0.25M and 0.5M solutions. The other 2 test tubes were filled with 4ml of the stock solution and 4ml of water for the control. 4 test tubes of 4ml of 2X molten agar with 2X MS salts solution were already made and sitting in a water bath. The solutions of sodium chloride and the water were poured into the four test tubes filled with the agar solution then vortexed to avoid having the gel not set properly. When the gel was set, the final concentrations were 0M, 0.125M, 0.25M, and 0.5M. 20 lettuce seeds, Lactuca sativa, were picked randomly using forceps, 5 were placed into each of the 4 test tubes and waited a week to make observations.
Results
Analysis showed a significant difference in stem and root growth between the seeds that had a salt solution in their environment and the control group. The average of the
Cited: Ghaderi-Far, F, Gherekhloo, J., & Alimagham, M.. (2010). Influence of environmental factors on seed germination and seedling emergence of yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis). Planta Daninha, 28(3), 463-469. doi: 10.1590/S0100-83582010000300002. Katembe, W. J., Ungar, I. A., & Mitchell, J. P. (1998). Effect of salinity on germination and seedling growth of two Atriplexspecies (Chenopodiaceae).Annals of Botany, 82(2), 167175. doi: 10.1006/anbo.1998.0663