The Effects of Vitamins on the Germination of

Radish Seeds

By: Erin Chandler

Question

•What effects to vitamins B12, C, and D have on the growth and germination of radish seeds?

Research-Vitamin B12

• consumed to aid red blood cell production

• nerve coating-neurological aid

• water soluble

• found in fish, shellfish, meat, eggs and dairy products

• low levels cause serious issues

• plants are not a reliable source

• used to enhance plant metabolism

Research-Vitamin D• vitamin naturally produced by the

sun

• fat soluble

• obtain through sun exposure, food, and supplements

• in order to be activated, must undergo 2 hydroxylations

• vitamin D aids in many processes

Research-Vitamin C

• essential nutrient

• acts as an antioxidant

• “healing” vitamin

• cofactor in enzymatic reactions

• required for metabolic reactions

• ascorbic acid

Research-Germination• remain dormant until ideal

conditions

• can be hindered by many factors

• radish seeds grow in moderate temperatures

• 3-12 days for germination

• ample water, can not be overheated

Hypothesis

• When a radish seed is exposed to vitamins B12, C, and D, vitamin B12 will enhance the growth and germination the most.

Materials • Vitamin B12

• Vitamin C

• Vitamin D

• 12 Petri dishes

• 120 radish seeds

• ruler

• bleach

• 12 pieces of filter paper

• dropper

• 4 beakers

• mortar and pestle

• distilled water

• rubber gloves

Procedure

• 1) Clean the seeds using a bleach solution

• 2) Create the B12 solution

• 3) Create the C solution

• 4) Create the D solution

• 5) Create the control

• 6) soak a pieces of filter paper and place it in a labeled Petri dish

Procedure (continued)• 7) Repeat step 6 with all vitamin

solutions and control

• 8) Put all Petri dishes in their correct, labeled, ziploc bag

• 9) Leave Petri dishes in the bags in a dark drawer for 2 days, after 2 days observe the seeds

• 10) Measure number of germinated seeds, root length, and number of moldy seeds

Variables• Independent Variable: the different

vitamins being used

• Dependent Variable: germination rate and growth of the seeds

• Control: seeds only exposed to distilled water

• Constants: type of seeds, temperature of water, amount of solution on filter paper, size of Petri dish, light exposure, temperature exposure

Data

Data 2

Data 3: T-test

control to b12 control to c control to d

0.0000039 0.3634966 0.8777368

b12 to c b12 to d

0.00000007 0.00004676

Discussion

• The data in this experiment showed that vitamin B12 would yield the most growth

• Vitamin C had the smallest average root length while B12 had the largest average root length

• The ttest showed that the B12 against the control and other vitamins can be taken into consideration because results were less than .01

• The hypothesis was supported by this experiment

• It can be concluded that vitamin B12 can aid in the growth of plants

Discussion (continued)

• If conducted again, more trials would have been beneficial

• Putting the Petri dishes in a lighter area would have helped, possibly allowed the seeds to not develop mold so quickly

• To further continue this experiment one could test more vitamin supplements, or even a multivitamin on the seeds

References

• "Dietary Supplement Fact Sheet: Vitamin D." Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS). Web. 26 Oct. 2011. <http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamind>.

• "Great Plant Escape - Germination." University of Illinois Extension-Urban Programs Resource Network - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Web. 22 Oct. 2011. <http://urbanext.illinois.edu/gpe/case3/c3facts3.html>.

• "The Official Seed Starting Home Page - Radishes." Weekend Gardener - Horticulture for Busy People. 2000. Web. 25 Oct. 2011. <http://www.chestnut-sw.com/seeds/vegseed/radishes.htm>.

• "Organic B Fertilizer | Organic B Fertilizer by Advanced Nutrients | Organic B Fertilizer for Growing Plants." Hydroponics, General Hydroponics, Hydroponic Nutrients & Supplies. 2010. Web. 26 Oct. 2011. <http://www.advancednutrients.com/hydroponics/products/organic_b/organic_b_product_information.php>.

• "Vitamin B12 - MayoClinic.com." Mayo Clinic. Web. 24 Oct. 2011. <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/vitamin-B12/NS_patient-vitaminb12>.

• "Vitamin B12: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia." National Library of Medicine - National Institutes of Health. 2011. Web. 24 Oct. 2011. <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002403.htm>.

• "Vitamin C." Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS). Web. 26 Oct. 2011. <http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VITAMINE>.

Thank you for listening!

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