Question 7 of 13intermediate✨ CreateShort Answer4 marks

Design an experiment to check if temperature has an effect on seed germination.

Correct Answer

To check if temperature affects seed germination, take three identical pots filled with garden soil. Sow equal number of bean seeds (4-5 seeds) in each pot at the same depth.

Maintain identical conditions for all pots - same amount of water (moist but not waterlogged), same type of soil, same light conditions. Place Pot A at room temperature (about 25-30°C), Pot B in a refrigerator (about 4-10°C), and Pot C in a warm location or near a heat source (about 35-40°C).

Water all pots regularly with the same amount of water to keep the soil moist. Observe the pots daily for 7-10 days and record when seeds start germinating in each pot.

Count the number of seeds that germinate in each pot and measure the length of shoots and roots. Compare the germination rate and growth in all three pots.

Expected observations: Seeds in Pot A (room temperature) will germinate normally. Seeds in Pot B (cold) may germinate very slowly or not at all. Seeds in Pot C (warm) may germinate faster initially but may show poor growth if temperature is too high.

This experiment demonstrates that temperature affects seed germination, with moderate temperatures being most favourable.

Exercise: Let us enhance our learning | Q: 9 | (Page Page 22)
For More Understanding

Explanation

The chapter discusses conditions required for seed germination in Activity 10.2 (Pages 6-8). While the activity focuses on water, air, and light conditions, the chapter mentions on Page 9 that plants need favourable conditions and nutrients for their proper growth and development. The chapter also notes that different seeds have different requirements - some seeds like Coleus and Petunia require light to germinate, while others like Calendula and Zinnia need darkness. Temperature is another environmental factor that affects germination. The scientific reasoning is that enzymes responsible for germination work optimally within certain temperature ranges. Very low temperatures slow down enzyme activity, while very high temperatures can denature enzymes and damage the seed.

Solution Steps

  1. Take three identical pots filled with garden soil and sow equal number of bean seeds in each pot at the same depth

  2. Maintain identical conditions for all pots - same water, soil, and light conditions

  3. Place Pot A at room temperature (25-30°C), Pot B in a refrigerator (4-10°C), and Pot C in a warm location (35-40°C)

  4. Water all pots regularly with the same amount of water to keep the soil moist

  5. Observe the pots daily for 7-10 days and record when seeds start germinating

  6. Count the number of germinated seeds and measure the length of shoots and roots in each pot

  7. Compare the germination rate and growth across all three pots to draw conclusions

PreviousNext