Blog 12

The experiment the group did focused on the effects light intensity on different species of fast plants. This article focused on how disrupting the natural light cycle effects plant growth. This article on scientists Kjaer and Ottosen demonstrated irregular light promotes more rapid plant growth. This experiment connects with the one the group preformed because both relied on light variation. Both of our experiments took the plants from ideal light and tested them with varying light conditions. Both of these experiments demonstrated the plants the plants ability to adapt to the light. Their experiment the leaves characteristics changed while our plants began to ben and twist in search of light. These experiments show the importance of light and and how plants evolve to take advantage of the precious resource. However their experiment centered on the stem and leaf growth while ours measured the stem growth as well as flower and bud production.    

American Society for Horticultural Science (2011, December 21). How exposure to irregular light affects plant circadian rhythms.ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 5, 2012, from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111214135810.htm?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sciencedaily+%28ScienceDaily%3A+Latest+Science+News%29

The hypothesis was that the plants would grow the quickest and tallest in direct light. Then the Partial would have the second tallest with the least growth being the indirect light. However the plants in the indirect light grew quickest in the beginning of the experiment as they were searching for the light. The direct and partial light did not seem very different until the middle of the experiment when the plants in the partial light began to grow very rapidly. The plants in direct light growth began to accelerate and grew taller than the indirect light. Then instead of growing straight toward light as we predicted the plants began to twist and fall on top of each other. Here is a video that shows the steps of the experiment and the results received.
 The Effects of Sunlight on Different Plant Species - YouTube