Planting Seeds

On Day 1 for all experiments
Plant the appropriate seeds in quads as follows:

  1. Obtain two quads; one for each experiment.
  2. Add a single wick to each cell of both quads. Wicks should extend from the base.
  3. Add moistened potting soil to each cell until half full.
  4. Add two or three fertilizer pellets on top of the potting soil in each cell.
  5. Add more potting soil until each cell is filled to it's brim.
  6. Make a small depression in the soil and plant three or four seeds in each cell.
  7. Cover the seeds with just enough potting soil so they are no longer visible.
  8. Water seeds with a pipette until water drips from the wicks.
  9. Label each quad with an experiment number. A handy way to devise an experiment number is to use your initials followed by the date you begin your experiment. For example JSM082897 would represent your instructor's initials, and the date she sat down to compose this page. Every piece of paper in her lab notebook, every piece of data that she gathered, and the materials used for her experiment would possess this number. It's a great way to organize an investigation. Each label should not only have your experimental number on it, but your name. Make sure that you place a plant label in each cell. Additionally the label should include the type of seeds planted (genotype, if known).
  10. Place labeled quads on a watering tray under the fluorescent light bank. Remember that the top of each quad should be 5 to 8 cm from the bulbs of the light bank.

 

 wicks1.jpg - 11.4 K
watering2.jpg - 16.4 K
REMINDER: Check the water reservoir daily and keep it filled. Completely fill the reservoir at the end of the day before a week-end or holiday. Also, check the water mat and potting mix in each cell daily. Both should be moist at all times. Add water to each, if dry, using a pipette.



On Day 4 or 5 for all experiments
Thin plants using these quidelines:

pruning1.jpg - 12.9 K Record phenotypes of all germinated plants in the
appropriate table. You may first want to observe
and compare your experimental phenotypes with
homozygous true-breeding plants on demonstration.
Then, using a pair of tweezers, thin plants, leaving
only the most vigorous single plant in each cell.
You may discard the unwanted seedlings.


Main Page | Introduction and Objectives | Scientific Investigation | Experimental Procedures | Writing Procedures | Mendelian Inheritance |  Monohybrid and Dihybrid Exercises | Reference | Miscellaneous | Materials | Planting Seeds | Pollinating Seeds | Harvesting Seeds | Germinating Seeds | Experiment One | Experiment Two | Experiment Three | Experiment One - Table 1 | Experiment One - Table 2 | Experiment One - Table 3 | Experiment Two - Table 1 | Experiment Three - Table 1 | Experiment Three - Table 2 |