The effect of NaCl treatment on growth and development of Arabidopsis thaliana
Introduction
Arabidopsis thaliana is a small flowering plant native to Europe and Asia. It is part of the mustard (Brassicaceae) family and is quite common and widespread, found in habitats such as rocky ground, sand dunes and disturbed habitats (e.g. weed gardens and waste ground). It has a 6 week generation time. On the first week two cotyledons emerge from the seed and more leaves develop up until the fourth to fifth week, when the rosette growth completes and flower production begins. This plant doesn’t hold much agricultural significance but it is mainly used as a model organism for research in plant biology. Its use as a model organism has several advantages, …show more content…
Between weeks 1 and 2 there was a steady increase in growth rate, which then accelerated further between weeks 2 and 4. Between weeks 4 and 5 the rate of growth slowed down significantly. At week 1 (before salt treatment was applied in week 2), both groups had similar average rosette diameters, with 7.5 + 1.75 mm for the control and 9 + 2 mm for the treated group. After week 2, the growth rate of the treated group was significantly slower than the control group but was similar from weeks 3 to 5. By week 5 the control group had an average rosette diameter of 119.63 + 5.66 mm which was significantly larger (P>0.05) than that of the treated group, with an average diameter of 101.11 + 7.37 mm. Both control and treated plants were of the same colour and shape, size was the only observable difference.
Conclusion
• Arabidopsis thaliana plants treated with salt water had a reduced growth rate and reached a smaller size at the end of the 5 week period compared to the untreated plants. Therefore salt treatment reduces plant growth.
• Despite the differences in growth rate and final size, both groups followed a similar growth pattern over the 5 week period. Growth accelerated between weeks 2 and 4 but slowed down significantly after week 4 for both groups. Therefore even if salt treatment affects the growth rate of plants it doesn’t affect their stages of
Introduction
Arabidopsis thaliana is a small flowering plant native to Europe and Asia. It is part of the mustard (Brassicaceae) family and is quite common and widespread, found in habitats such as rocky ground, sand dunes and disturbed habitats (e.g. weed gardens and waste ground). It has a 6 week generation time. On the first week two cotyledons emerge from the seed and more leaves develop up until the fourth to fifth week, when the rosette growth completes and flower production begins. This plant doesn’t hold much agricultural significance but it is mainly used as a model organism for research in plant biology. Its use as a model organism has several advantages, …show more content…
Between weeks 1 and 2 there was a steady increase in growth rate, which then accelerated further between weeks 2 and 4. Between weeks 4 and 5 the rate of growth slowed down significantly. At week 1 (before salt treatment was applied in week 2), both groups had similar average rosette diameters, with 7.5 + 1.75 mm for the control and 9 + 2 mm for the treated group. After week 2, the growth rate of the treated group was significantly slower than the control group but was similar from weeks 3 to 5. By week 5 the control group had an average rosette diameter of 119.63 + 5.66 mm which was significantly larger (P>0.05) than that of the treated group, with an average diameter of 101.11 + 7.37 mm. Both control and treated plants were of the same colour and shape, size was the only observable difference.
Conclusion
• Arabidopsis thaliana plants treated with salt water had a reduced growth rate and reached a smaller size at the end of the 5 week period compared to the untreated plants. Therefore salt treatment reduces plant growth.
• Despite the differences in growth rate and final size, both groups followed a similar growth pattern over the 5 week period. Growth accelerated between weeks 2 and 4 but slowed down significantly after week 4 for both groups. Therefore even if salt treatment affects the growth rate of plants it doesn’t affect their stages of