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ABSTRACT
Diffusion, osmosis, imbibitions, and
guttation are directly involved in the
transport of water and minerals in and
out of a plant body. The cell
membrane maintains and protects the
plant body in the ever-changing
environment. Different environments
directly affect the transport of
dissolved minerals into the plant cells.
Our group used seven different
experiments to demonstrate the
transport of water and dissolved
minerals in and out of a plant.
Diffusion of pigments was seen in the
first experiment concerning Bixa
orellana, where the seeds were placed
in different test tubes containing
different substances. Osmosis, on the
other hand, was observed using small
strips of the abaxial epidermis of
Rhoeo spathodea. The third
experiment deals with the factors
affecting the integrity of the cell
membrane and was observed using
apple peelings which were placed in
different kinds of solvents at different
temperatures. Imbibition was seen
when wood, rubber and corn seeds
were placed inside two beakers - one
with water and the other with
kerosene. It was noted that each
material had an increase in weight
when placed in kerosene. The
movement of water through its stem
was seen in an experiment involving
pechay stalk; transpiration was
noticed when four identical leaves
where applied with petroleum jelly
1. Introduction
Water and mineral substances are
taken up from the soil through the
roots and transported upwards; on the
other hand, products of photosynthesis
are produced and transported
throughout the plant system. In order
to thrive, plants must coordinate the
physiological processes that occur in
the maintenance of the equilibrium of
the transport of dissolved substances
through the cytoplasmic membrane.
The transport of nutrients and water
throughout the plant body provides the
framework for cell-to-cell
interdependence.
There are two ways in which transport
can occur across a membrane, either
by passive or active, depending on the
energy required during the process.
Simple diffusion, a kind of passive
transport, moves water from regions
of higher concentration to a lower one.
This process is only possible for
solutes which are readily permeable.
Other processes include bulk flow,
active transport, imbibitions and
osmosis.
IV.
2. Methodology
2.1. Diffusion of Selected Plant
Pigments
Our group weighed the seeds of
atsuete (Bixa orellana) and placed one
gram of seed each into 4 different kind
of test tubes. These test tubes were
labelled 1-4. In test tube labelled 1, 10
ml of distilled water was placed. In
test tube number 2, our group put 10
ml of distilled water and then placed it
in a boiling water bath. Next, we have
test tube number 3 and we placed 10
ml of vegetable oil. Lastly in test tube
number 4, 10 ml of heated vegetable
oil was placed. After half an hour, we
shook the test tubes and recorded the
color intensities in each.
2.2. Osmosis
Thin sections of the lower epidermal
side of Bangka-bangkaan (Rhoeo
spathodea) were cut by our group.
Using the LPO of the microscope, we
made a sketch of the turgid cell. Next,
without moving the slide, water was
drawn off using a piece of paper towel
and replaced it with a 5% NaCl
solution. A sketch showing the change
3. Results
3.1. Diffusion of Selected Plant
Pigments
The diffusion of the pigments of the
seeds of Bixa orellana is relatively
higher when the concentration is also
high. More so, the higher the
Substance
Test Tube 1 (Distilled Water)
Test Tube 2 (Hot Distilled Water)
Test Tube 3 (Vegetable Oil)
Test Tube 4 (Heated Vegetable Oil)
3.2. Osmosis
The cells were larger and tugid when
it was exposed with water; however,
when it was replaced with 5% NaCl
solution, the cells became flaccid and
plasmolyzed.
3.3. Factors Affecting the Integrity
of Cell Membranes
The results produced from this can be
divided into 3 parts: temperature, pH
effects, and organic solvents. With
temperature, the outside of the normal
physiological range would disrupt
membrane integrity causing pigments
to leak out of the cells. For organic
solvents, nonpolar ones would cause
damage to the membrane since the
outer membrane is nonpolar and
hydrophobic. Lastly, extreme pH
causes protein membranes to denature.
Table 2. Color Intensity of Various Solutions
Test Tube
A (C) room temperature
B (C) - refrigerated
C (C) heated to 60C
Intensity of Color
+++
++
+
D (chl
E (ace
F (NaO
----
----
G (HC
3.4. Imbibition
In this experiment, the affinity of the
wood, rubber and seeds to different
solvents were compared. Wood and
rubber makes good imbibant of water
as they showed significant change in
Medium
Water
Kerosene
Imbibant
Rubber
Wood
Seeds
Ruber
Wood
Seeds
4.2. Osmosis
4. DISCUSSION
REFERE NCES
Committee on Biology 21
Laboratory Manual FS AY 20082009. (2008). Biology 21:
General
Botany
Laboratory
Manual.
Mauseth, J. (2009). Botany: An
Introduction to Plant Biology, 4th
edition. Sudbury, MA: Jones and
Bartlett Publishers.