How does unused motor oil affect the percent germination of Romaine Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. longifolia) seeds?
Research Question
How does unused motor oil affect the percent germination of Romaine Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. longifolia) seeds?
Background
Germination in seeds is when the seed coat breaks revealing the embryo or sprout of the plant (Biology Online). For a seed to properly germinate it must have water, oxygen, and the correct temperature (BBC). Each type of seed has a specific range of conditions like temperature, amount of water and light that will allow them to germinate (BBC). To germinate Romaine (Lactuca sativa L. var. longifolia) seeds, the temperature of the seeds cannot reach above 30 °C (Heirloom). It …show more content…
Add 25 Romaine Lettuce Seeds to each 10cm petri dish.
2. Cut Paper Towels to the shape of the petri dishes so they will be able to lay flat when covering the seeds.
3. Starting with the control, measure 10ml of distilled water. The control will have no motor oil so the ratio of water to motor oil will be 10:0.
4. Add to one of the 5 petri dishes; label the petri dish with the ratio.
5. Put on safety equipment (gloves and goggles) before opening the motor oil.
6. Measure 8ml of water and 2ml of motor oil for the next petri dish, the ratio of this trial will be 8:2 or 4:1.
7. Put both the water and motor oil in the beaker and stir with glass stirring rod.
8. Add to one of the 5 petri dishes; label the petri dish with the ratio.
9. Measure 6ml of water and 4ml of motor oil for the next petri dish, the ratio of this trial will be 6:4 or 3:2.
10. Put both the water and motor oil in the beaker and stir with glass stirring rod.
11. Add to one of the 5 petri dishes; label the petri dish with the ratio.
12. Measure 4ml of water and 6ml of motor oil for the next petri dish, the ratio of this trial will be 4:6 or 2:3.
13. Put both the water and motor oil in the beaker and stir with glass stirring …show more content…
In both data sets the control group had the highest germination percentage with an average of 24 out of 25 seeds germinated. The relationship of the number of seeds germinated and amount of motor oil is indirect, as the amount of motor oil increases the number of seeds germinated decreases. These findings are similar to other researchers’ works like B.U. Olayinka and O.O. Arinde’s work on Effects of Spent Engine Oil on Germination and Seedling Growth of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.). Their findings supported the idea that Groundnuts were affected in germination as well as adult plants by motor oil (Olayinka). This indirect relationship could be caused by the number of toxins in motor oil or that because the motor oil surrounding the seeds, they could not get enough oxygen to start to grow out of the seed coat. Water is needed in germination to soften and penetrate the seed coat and it is possible that the motor oil was unable to do that which leads to the seeds to stay in dormancy.
Environmental Disposal
All motor oil used in this investigation was taken to a local fire department that takes oils, paints, and other environmentally hazardous materials and disposes of them. Since the seeds that were in the control trial were never contaminated with motor oil they were planted in a garden to hopefully
Research Question
How does unused motor oil affect the percent germination of Romaine Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. longifolia) seeds?
Background
Germination in seeds is when the seed coat breaks revealing the embryo or sprout of the plant (Biology Online). For a seed to properly germinate it must have water, oxygen, and the correct temperature (BBC). Each type of seed has a specific range of conditions like temperature, amount of water and light that will allow them to germinate (BBC). To germinate Romaine (Lactuca sativa L. var. longifolia) seeds, the temperature of the seeds cannot reach above 30 °C (Heirloom). It …show more content…
Add 25 Romaine Lettuce Seeds to each 10cm petri dish.
2. Cut Paper Towels to the shape of the petri dishes so they will be able to lay flat when covering the seeds.
3. Starting with the control, measure 10ml of distilled water. The control will have no motor oil so the ratio of water to motor oil will be 10:0.
4. Add to one of the 5 petri dishes; label the petri dish with the ratio.
5. Put on safety equipment (gloves and goggles) before opening the motor oil.
6. Measure 8ml of water and 2ml of motor oil for the next petri dish, the ratio of this trial will be 8:2 or 4:1.
7. Put both the water and motor oil in the beaker and stir with glass stirring rod.
8. Add to one of the 5 petri dishes; label the petri dish with the ratio.
9. Measure 6ml of water and 4ml of motor oil for the next petri dish, the ratio of this trial will be 6:4 or 3:2.
10. Put both the water and motor oil in the beaker and stir with glass stirring rod.
11. Add to one of the 5 petri dishes; label the petri dish with the ratio.
12. Measure 4ml of water and 6ml of motor oil for the next petri dish, the ratio of this trial will be 4:6 or 2:3.
13. Put both the water and motor oil in the beaker and stir with glass stirring …show more content…
In both data sets the control group had the highest germination percentage with an average of 24 out of 25 seeds germinated. The relationship of the number of seeds germinated and amount of motor oil is indirect, as the amount of motor oil increases the number of seeds germinated decreases. These findings are similar to other researchers’ works like B.U. Olayinka and O.O. Arinde’s work on Effects of Spent Engine Oil on Germination and Seedling Growth of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.). Their findings supported the idea that Groundnuts were affected in germination as well as adult plants by motor oil (Olayinka). This indirect relationship could be caused by the number of toxins in motor oil or that because the motor oil surrounding the seeds, they could not get enough oxygen to start to grow out of the seed coat. Water is needed in germination to soften and penetrate the seed coat and it is possible that the motor oil was unable to do that which leads to the seeds to stay in dormancy.
Environmental Disposal
All motor oil used in this investigation was taken to a local fire department that takes oils, paints, and other environmentally hazardous materials and disposes of them. Since the seeds that were in the control trial were never contaminated with motor oil they were planted in a garden to hopefully