Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

If we add sugar to cut flowers does photosysthesis continue?
How does the water contiue to be soaked if the roots are cut off the flowers?
will better seeds results if we continue to add sugar?
What causes the ethylene gas build-up? how does it occur?
thanks: Jonathan Estrada, Toshak B. Anthony Anderson, Alberto Need info by Wed. Sorry for short notice

Photosynthesis is the process by which plants use the energy from sunlight to produce sugar, so if you add sugar to the cut plant, it will not really affect its ability to photosynthesize. As long as you still have carbon dioxide, water, and light energy, plus the photosynthetic green pigment chlorophyll a and b (found in leaves), the plant will still be able to photosynthesize.

Flowering plants are vascular, which means they have a system for transporting water and nutrients from the roots to the shoots (leaves). The root and stem is together called stele. Without the roots, the plant can still conduct water up the stem.

I don't know whether better seeds would result if you keep adding sugar, but there is a food supply stored in the seed. A seed is basically an embryo and its food supply inside a protective coat.

Ethylene, also known as the 'ripening hormone,' plays a regulatory role in many processes of plant growth, development and eventually death. Fruits, vegetables, and flowers contain receptors which serve as bonding sites to absorb free atmospheric ethylene molecules. The common practice of placing a tomato, avocado or banana in a paper bag to hasten ripening is an example of the action of ethylene on produce. Increased levels of ethylene contained within the bag, released by the produce itself, serves as a stimulant to initiate the production of more ethylene. The overall effect is to hasten ripening, aging and eventually spoilage.