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Toxicology
Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 5:36 pm
by puja
I am doing a project on bioassays and my question is What is the optimal pH for lettuce seed germination or radicle growth? I need help with planning the experiment.
Thanks in advance.
Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2006 9:57 pm
by tsham12
Hi Puja,
I searched online and I found this site on bioassays techniques for lettuce seeds so maybe it will help with your experiment?
http://ei.cornell.edu/toxicology/bioassays/lettuce/
On this site it
http://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheets/HGIC1312.htm
it says the optimal soil pH should be between 5.8-6.5
hope this helps!
-Tiffany
Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 8:38 am
by carolinethorn
Hi Puja,
What have you thought about so far with planning the experiment? Have you tried to germinate or grow seeds before? What kind of materials did you use?
Have you read some of th ebasic information about variablea and experiment design on the scinece buddies website (under how to do a science project) - it is useful to read over those.
It sounds like you want to test soil pH as the independent variable in your experiment. So you will want to try and keep the other growing conditions constant - the type of container for the soil, how many seeds you sow in each pot, how much you water the seeds, how much light the pots get and so on. Then you need to think about how you will get or make a range of soils of different pH. The information Tiffany provided is useful because then you know you will wnat to have some test soils that are in the range of between 5.8-6.5. How do you think you will measure when a seed has germinated? What could you count? what could you observe? I can think of 2 possible independent variables you could measure - can you come up with them or should i give you some clues?
post back with how your ideas are coming along,
best of luck,
Caroline
Toxicology
Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 4:33 pm
by puja
To tiffany:
The first website is where I got the idea for this project from. The second website also helped alot.
To caroline:
I am going to use H2SO4 dilutions to test the affects of acidity on lettuce seed germination and growth. As for the independent variables, i'm not sure.
I'll keep posting updates on my project.
Thank you both very much. 
Toxicology
Posted: Fri Dec 01, 2006 6:51 pm
by puja
Hi
I am going to use sulfuric acid in my project, can someone tell me where i can buy some? And where can i find general and scientific reviewed articles on my project?
Thanks in advance
Sulfuric Acid Usage
Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 10:32 am
by surekhamuralidharan
Hi Puja
Sulfuric acid is very dangerous and I believe in order to buy it you will need a lisence. It would be better if you worked on this project with a mentor as your school chemistry or biology( science teacher) teacher who has acces to these chemicals and knows how to work with them safest.
Hope this helps
Surekha.
Toxixology
Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2006 5:38 pm
by puja
Hi
Thanks for the heads up. I had no idea it was dangerous! 
Do you have any suggestions of what I can use?
Thanks.
Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 8:45 am
by MelissaB
Puja,
I'm not sure what you're asking. Are you asking what you can use instead of sulfuric acid? You can probably use another acid, though I'm not familiar with the procedure so I'm not sure. However, /any/ acid you work with will need to be done under the supervision of your teacher because any acid can be very dangerous if used improperly. You will also need to get it from your teacher because you'll need a license to purchase any acid. If your teacher doesn't have the ability to purchase it and work with it properly, you'll need to find a chemistry or biology teacher who can.
Hope that was what you were asking!
Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 11:50 am
by deleted-71490
Puja:
What approach are you taking to grow/germinate lettuce seed? If you are using a soil system (natural soil or potting mix) you do not need to adjust the pH.
If you are going to study seed germination on blotter paper you will need to prepare a range of pHs using buffers. Your chemistry or biology teacher can help you with this.
Good luck.
Matt Mulanax