Different Stages Of Chemistry And Its Relevance

SCIENCE PROJECT
SECOND PERIOD
5TH GRADE
2011 – 2012

NAME: Miguel Felipe Barragán Vivas COURSE: 5ª DATE: 12 – 12 - 11

DOES SALINITY AFFECT THE GERMINATION OF RADISH SEEDS?

OBJECTIVE:
My project wants to prove how the salinity of water affects the germination of radish seeds.
I think that if the salinity of water increases, then the radish seeds will not grow properly, they will notgerminate.

BACKGROUND:

1. What is germination?
Germination is the growth of a plant embryo into a seedling. Seeds are created when the pollen of the male flower unites with the egg from the female flower. When the seed matures, and is put in an environment that is favorable (like soil), the embryo will begin growing rapidly and will burst through the seed coating. The first part of aseed to emerge is called a radicle. This will develop into the primary root of the plant. (http://robert-dailey.suite101.com)
2. What is the taxonomic classification of radish? From kingdom to species.
(http://en.wikipedia.org)
Scientific classification |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Rosids |
Order: | Brassicales |
Family:| Brassicaceae |
Genus: | Raphanus |
Species: | R. sativus |
Binomial name |
Raphanus sativus
L. |

3. Briefly describe the process of germination of the radish. What is the time of radish germination? What are the optimum conditions for radish germination?
The first stage in the life cycle of the radish is germination. Germination for radishes is rather quick. In fact, it cantake place within a week or even several days. Unlike other plants, it's not necessary to start the process of germination indoors in the winter months. Soon after the last hard frost, radishes can be planted directly in the ground.
Radishes like sun but at the same time like cool conditions. If they are grown in full sun during the summer, they will run to seed or bolt very quickly.(www.sciencebuddies.org)
4. What is the effect of salinity in germination?
Salinity reduces substrate water potential, thereby restricting water and nutrient uptake by plants; salinity may also cause ionic imbalance and toxicity. Because substrate salinity fluctuates through the growing season, a plant may be exposed to different salinity levels, at various stages of development, with potentiallysignificant consequences on population dynamics. (http://www.amjbot.org)
5. What is a variable?
A variable is an object, event, idea, feeling, time period, or any other type of category you are trying to measure. There are two types of variables-independent and dependent.
Scientists use an experiment to search for cause and effect relationships in nature. In other words, they design an experiment sothat changes to one item cause something else to vary in a predictable way.
These changing quantities are called variables. A variable is any factor, trait, or condition that can exist in differing amounts or types. (www.sciencebuddies.org ), (http://nces.ed.gov)
6. What are independent variables?
An independent variable is exactly what it sounds like. It is a variable that stands alone andisn't changed by the other variables you are trying to measure. For example, someone's age might be an independent variable. Other factors (such as what they eat, how much they go to school, how much television they watch) aren't going to change a person's age. In fact, when you are looking for some kind of relationship between variables you are trying to see if the independent variable causes somekind of change in the other variables, or dependent variables. (http://nces.ed.gov)
7. What are dependent variables?
Just like an independent variable, a dependent variable is exactly what it sounds like. It is something that depends on other factors. For example, a test score could be a dependent variable because it could change depending on several factors such as how much you studied,...