Wind and Plant Respiration
Abstract The hypothesis states that plants respire at a faster rate if they are exposed to wind, opposed to no wind. This was tested by putting one plant in water in front of a fan and the other plant in water, but with no fan. The results showed that the plant in front of the fan transpired more. However, since the plant blew cold air it affected the rate of transpiration and altered the experiment. Overall, this experiment supports the hypothesis that wind makes plants transpire more. Hypothesis If a plant is exposed to wind for 24 hours, then it will transpire more than a plant that is not exposed to wind.
Materials/Methods •2 Test tubes •1 Graduated cylinder •Food coloring •Water •2 pieces of Lactuca sativa •1 Test tube rack •Fan 70 ml. of water was measured in a graduated cylinder and poured into a test tube. 7 drops of red food dye was added into the test tube. 70 ml. of water was measured in a graduated cylinder and poured into a second test tube. 7 drops of blue food dye was added into the second test tube. A piece of Lactuca sativa was placed into the red test tube so that only the stem was submerged in water.
A second piece of Lactuca sativa (roughly the same size as the first) was placed into the blue test tube so that only the stem was submerged in water. The blue test tube was placed in a test tube rack in front of a fan set on low. The red test tube was placed in a test tube rack where there was no wind. After 24 hours both pieces of Lactuca sativa were taken out of the test tubes. The remaining water in the red test tube was poured into a graduated cylinder and measured. The remaining water in the blue test tube was poured into a graduated cylinder and measured. Results
Effect of Wind on Transpiration Exposed to Wind Not exposed to Wind Measurements Before 70ml. 70ml. Measurements After 59ml. 60ml. Overall Transpiration 11ml. 10ml. The table/graph shows that the Lactuca sativa exposed to wind transpired 11ml of water after 24 hours. It also shows that the Lactuca sativa that was not exposed to wind transpired 10ml. Therefore, the Lactuca sativa exposed to wind transpired more. Discussion The hypothesis stated that if a plant is exposed to wind for 24 hour, then it will transpire more than a plant that is not in wind.
The results from this experiment supported the hypothesis. The hypothesis was formed because in windy conditions the stomata of a plant open, which allows the plant to transpire. The results were unexpected because there was only a 1ml. difference in the transpiration, and it was expected to have a bigger difference. An alternate hypothesis would be that because the fan made Lactuca Sativa cold, it would not transpire more than the Lacutuca Sativa that was not exposed to wind. Conclusion This experiment verifies that wind does increase the rate of transpiration in plants.
However, if the wind is cold it changes the effect that the wind has on the plant. It would still transpire, just not as fast. This happens because when a plant gets cold its stomata close making the rate of transpiration very slow, but the wind has the opposite effect. Therefore if it is windy, but still cold, the wind opens the stomata and the cold closes the stomata therefore the rate of transpiration is not affected. If this experiment could be done again more pieces of Lactuca Sativa would be used to get an average of data. Also, the fan would blow warm air so the temperature would not affect the rate of transpiration.
