| Explore | We already know that plants require sunlight and water, but they also need ample room for their roots to grow and spread. Without enough of these, the plants growth would be inhibited. Soil composition can also have a great effect. |
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| Research Question | How do available nutrient levels affect gene expression in Brassica plants? |
| Predictions | The increased nutrient levels of the experimental group will facilitate a more expedient growth of the Brassica plant, resulting in a taller plant with denser foliage and of a richer stem and leaf color, exhibiting more trichomes. |
| Experimental Design | Independent Variable - Amount of nutrients Dependent Variables - Plant height, amount of leaves, amount of trichomes. Constants - Amount of sunlight, amount of water, space to grow, type of nutrients, type of soil, type of plant, time allotted for testing, number of seeds. Experimental Group - High nutrients Control - Low nutrients Procedure: 1. Acquire 8 16-oz plastic water bottles and remove the labels. 2. Draw a line 1 cm below the shoulder of the water bottle using a sharpie. 3. Cut around the bottle along the line until the top is removed from the rest of the bottle. 4. Drill a hole in the cap of the water bottle. 5. Cut 8 pieces of string 4-5 inches long, and place them through the hole in the cap. 6. Place the top of the bottle upside down into the larger cylinder of the bottle so that it looks like a funnel. 7. Fill each funnel with 5 heaping tablespoons of Vermiculite. Add 6 pellets of nutrient treatment in 4 of the bottles labeled 'low nutrients' and 24 pellets in 4 of the bottles labeled 'high nutrients.' 8. Add 4 heaping tablespoons of 50:50 mixture of Vermiculite 'seedling starter.' 9. Spray each bottle with spray bottle filled with water until the soil is slightly moist. 10. Place 6 seeds evenly throughout the funnel. 11. Cover the seeds with two tablespoons of Vermiculite, smoothing it with the spoon. 12. Soak with water until the string underneath begins to drip. 13. Fill the bottle up with water until it surpasses the cap of the funnel. 14. Wrap the bottle of the bottle where the water is located in tin foil, taping it so that no light enters. 15. Place on tray near windowsill. |
| Conclusion | The results did not support our hypothesis, with the high nutrient group’s growth being stunted and the amount of viable flowers being greatly diminished. |
| Investigation Theme | BRASSICA |
| Grade Level | High School Students (Grades 9,10,11,12) |
| Teacher Name | William Bartenslager |
| School Name | Palm Beach Central High School |
| Session | Spring 2022 |