| Experimental Design |
The materials used were: four petri dishes, Carolina nutrient agar, Non-nutrient agar, Nutrient agar, Stirring rod, Hot plate, 10% bleach, C-Fern Carolina Spores, Ziploc bags, Sharpie markers, 250mL beaker, Latex gloves, Spore spreader, Micropipette, and Hot hands
The variables were:
IV→ Type of agar used,
DV→ The rate of germination,
Constants→ Amount of water used, amount of agar used, amount of sunlight, amount of spore solution per petri dish, time permitted to grow, temperature for each petri dish, spore spreader,
The procedure was as follows:
1. Using 10% bleach, disinfect the area of work.
2. Fill three 250mL beakers with 120mL of water.
3. Label each beaker as “Non-Nutrient,” “Nutrient,” and “Carolina Nutrient.”
4. For the beakers labeled, “Nutrient” and “Carolina Nutrient,” mix the proportional amount of each agar in its corresponding beaker.
5. Place each beaker on a hot plate set to high until the solution boils, mixing with a stirring rod.
6. Take the beakers off the hot plate with hot hands and let them cool for ten minutes.
7. After ten minutes, pour each beaker of agar into four petri dishes using the clamshell technique.
8. Wait for the agar to solidify then close the plate and flip it upside down.
9. Store the plates for 24 hours.
10. After 24 hours, add 100 microliters of C-fern Carolina Spores to each plate using a pipette.
11. Spread the spore solution using a spore spreader.
12. Store plates in a partially closed plastic bag on the windowsill while the spores germinate. |