Germination and Electroshock Therapy By: Katelyn Dreux & Michele Klunk

Objective The purpose of this experiment is to determine the affect of increasing voltages on the growth of radish seeds.

Radish Information The scientific name of the radish is Raphanus sativus. Radishes are a member of the Cruciferae family, also known as the mustard family. Their origins are thought to be the Asian continent, specifically China. There are reports of the radish in Egypt around the time of the pharaohs and ancient Greece. Germination typically occurs three to four days after planting. Harvesting occurs days after planting.

Background A similar experiment on apple seeds found that the voltage decreased germination for the 40th day and increased it on the 50th through 60th days. They also found that the experimental plants were hardier than the control. We chose this experiment to see the effects of combining what we learned in physics to botany.

Hypothesis Our hypothesis is that the higher the voltage put into the soil, the more stunted the growth of the seeds will be.

Experimental Design ~ Steps 1-5 Fill each of the flower containers with three inches of soil. Place ten radish seeds in the middle of the flower container with about one inch of distance between them. Place the two pieces of wire lengthwise in the container; allow the extra wire to hang over the side of the container. The wires and the seeds should be at the same height. Tape the wire to the side of container near the soil. Label different containers: Control, 1.5 V, 3.0 V, and 4.5 V.

Experimental Design ~ Steps 6-10 If the more than one battery is needed. Tape them positive end to negative end. The 4.5 V used 3 batteries, the 3.0 V was just two batteries and 1.5 V is obtained from one battery. Next you tape one wire to the positive end of the batteries and the other to the negative end. Place a one inch layer of soil over the seeds and the batteries, making sure both are covered. Give 150 milliliters of water when soil is dry. Record daily plant growth and the voltages in the soil at the top (closest to the battery), middle, and bottom of the flower containers.

Graph

Interpretation There is no real margin of difference between the groups. The 1.5 V group had the lowest growth average. The 4.5 V group had the highest growth average. When visually comparing the groups, the voltage groups were less pale and broken than the control. The control group plants were bent and easily broken.

Conclusion The plants with voltages added to the soil grew at the same rate as the control group. The voltage plants were also healthier than the control group plants. However towards the end of the experiment the plants grew at a similar rate.

Resources “Radish Growing” “Easy Gardening… Radishes” horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/easygardening/radish/ra dish.htmlhttp://aggie- horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/easygardening/radish/ra dish.html “Radish” ary/veggies/radish.html ary/veggies/radish.html “Radishes and Turnips” html html “The effect of treating apple seeds with an electric current on the growth and development of seedlings”

Thank You!!! Dr. Landry Mrs. Hynes Alisa Lee Emily Penprase Wal-mart Yay we are done!!!!!