The Effects of pH and Temperature

on the Sugar Production of

Raphinus Sativus Plants
Nicolas Giallombardo Cousino
High School
Zachary Hoisington....... Sterling Heights
High School

Why?
Let us take an
example
Farmer Tom

http://media.treehugger.com/assets/images/2011/10/farmer-john-cornfield.jpg

Giallombardo - Hoisington

The Problem
How does the
pH level of the water
temperature of the growing
environment

effect the CO2 production

Giallombardo - Hoisington

Concepts to Understand
pH
Photosynthesis
How C3 plants function

Diffusion

Giallombardo - Hoisington

The Factors
pH
easily changeable, yet noticeable

Temperature
Meant to simulate three temperature
groups
Room temperature
Normal Michigan weather
Tropical climate

Giallombardo - Hoisington

pH
Three values of pH:
About 6
7
About 8

Giallombardo - Hoisington

10 11

12 13 14

Temperature
Three values of temperature:
22 C (room temperature)
26 C (normal Michigan)
35 C (tropical)

Giallombardo - Hoisington

The Hypothesis
It is predicted that the
Lower pH value
Lower temperature value

will produce the best results and

yield the highest CO2 production in
the sugars

Giallombardo - Hoisington

Set Up / Materials

Giallombardo - Hoisington

The Procedure

https://fbcdn-video-a.akamaihd.net/cfs-akash4/v/440455/811/3358563959881_62605.mp4?
oh=0107af29eba4a6023e79e05d7fd94439&oe=4FCE6A20&__gda__=13
38927648_320628821a875ac6ac7775273f9f2e9e

https://fbcdn-video-a.akamaihd.net/cfs-aksnc6/v/592972/486/3358783285364_55154.mp4?
oh=a7ee449914b4c02abc439f7f08ddeb14&oe=4FCE6A20&__gda__=13
38927648_4c8840ca0b527bb894746229fdaf53d8

https://fbcdn-video-a.akamaihd.net/cfs-akash4/v/435802/836/3358834086634_49997.mp4?
oh=fbe20f732c76b82c44144acf7f1a5d96&oe=4FCE6A20&__gda__=133
8927648_28959af0511408f8e3430235e9281ce9

Giallombardo - Hoisington

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Standard Variability

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pH Effect
pH
(-) 6

(+) 8

.08

.19

.11
Avg = .
095

Giallombardo - Hoisington

.35
Avg = .
27

12

Temperature Effect
Temperature
(-) 22
(+) 35
C
C
.08

.19

.35
.11
Avg = . Avg = .
215
15

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Interaction Effect

Temperature

pH

(-) 22
C

(+) 35
C

Solid
Seg

(+) 8

0.35

0.19

Dotted
Seg

(-) 6

0.08

0.11

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In Conclusion
The worst results occurred due to
two different reasons:

Hypothesis:
Too low pH
REJECTED
Too low temperature

The best occurred due to:

Low temperature
High pH

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Design Flaws
Spinach experiment
Human Error
Measuring
Cutting cups

Water pH was not exact

No sunlight in incubators

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Future Improvements
Larger scale
More plants
More space
More time

Exact pH levels

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Yeast Air Balloons Activity. Science of Cooking. 1st version. Exploratorium. 2011. Web. 25 March 2012.
<http://www.exploratorium.edu/cooking/bread/activity-yeast.html>
http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/iampuay/iampuay1109/iampuay110900038/10746168-pattern-of-horse-radish-leaves.jpg
http://media.treehugger.com/assets/images/2011/10/farmer-john-cornfield.jpg

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