| Explore | We know that like humans and animals, plants are living things, or organisms. Plants have a cell wall, large central vacuole, and plastids. They are multicellular organisms predominantly photosynthetic eukaryotes of the kingdom Plantae. Most plants use water to carry moisture and nutrients back and forth between the roots and leaves, and the water as well and nutrients are normally taken up through the roots from the soil. |
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| Research Question | What environmental conditions cause the pathogens to effect the solidity of the potato and how does this result in color change? |
| Predictions | We predict that the environment the potato was in led to the softness of the potato. Most groups tested and kept their potatoes inside their homes, while we kept the potato outside. This change in condition may have made the bacteria on the potato react differently, producing softer spots and more brown surface area. |
| Experimental Design | Control Group: Solanum tuberosum, Organic Melody Potatoes Experimental Group: Environmental conditions Our experiment tests how specific environmental conditions directly affect the potato rot process. This experiment requires six different trials where each potato will undergo a different environmental condition. Before testing the potatoes, agitate them in bleach for 30 minutes. Then, inject each potato with a potato rot inoculum in four different sites, and wrap them in a damp paper towel. The purpose of this experiment is to simulate “wet” and “dry” conditions. The first potato was placed outside, simulating hot and dry conditions. The second potato was placed outside in the shade, where temperatures are comparatively cool and dry, compared to when in direct sunlight. The third potato was placed inside, in an air-conditioned area, simulating cool and dry conditions, without fluctuating temperatures like outside. The fourth potato was placed in a refrigerator, simulating a cold and dry environment where the temperature remains constant. The fifth potato was wrapped in a damp towel, and placed in a plastic bag, which was then placed in a plastic Tupperware container in an attempt to simulate humid to hot conditions. The last potato was wrapped in a damp towel, and put into an airtight plastic bag. To simulate rainy conditions, we will perform a rain simulation on the potato for five minutes each day at noon and set it out to rest in the open outside. Check each potato everyday for one week, recording each potato's physical description as well as measuring the solidity of the potato. |
| Investigation Theme | PGST |
| Grade Level | High School Students (Grades 9,10,11,12) |
| School Name | California Academy of Mathematics and Science |
| Session | Fall 2020 |