Can Every Part of a Plant Regrow?

Abstract

Have you ever picked a flower and tried to make it stay alive in a cup of water? How long does that last? Do some flowers last longer than others? Why do you think that is? In this experiment, you will compare different plants to see which ones can regrow or regenerate after damage and learn why some plants are better at it than others. 

Summary

Areas of Science

Plant Biology

Difficulty

Method

Scientific Method

Time Required

Average (6-10 days)

Prerequisites

None

Material Availability

Readily available

Cost

Very Low (under $20)

Safety

Be careful when using scissors.

Credits

Laura Ohl, PhD, Science Buddies Alumni

Science Buddies is committed to creating content authored by scientists and educators. Learn more about our process and how we use AI.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2r26dDTosvU

Objective

Investigate how well different plants regrow over time after being damaged.

Introduction

If you have ever bought a bouquet of flowers at the store, you may have noticed that they don't last very long. You may have cut the ends before putting them in a cup of water or put a mix provided by the florist to extend their life. Did you know these packets usually contain sugar, pH acidifiers, and antimicrobial agents to help keep them alive longer? How can we make them last longer than a few weeks, though? Each part of a plant is important to keep a plant alive. Picked flowers often lack roots, which are an essential part of any plant. Roots help anchor a plant in place in the soil, absorb water, take up nutrients, and even store food for later use. Damage to the shoot (the green part of the plant) can also prevent the plant from lasting. Shoots are essential to any plant, allowing for growth and photosynthesis for energy production. How do we encourage plants to grow back roots or shoots so they can live longer than a few days or weeks?

Plants have a unique ability to regenerate after injury or damage. This is due to their reserve of stem cells distributed throughout the plant. These stem cells allow plants to regrow cells of the roots or shoots (Figure 1). Not all plants have the same ability to regenerate. How much or how little a plant can regenerate is called regenerative capacity. Plants with a high regenerative capacity can regenerate more because the plant can change its cells at the injury site back to stem cells. Stem cells are immature (or undefined) cells that decide their fate through a process called differentiation. Differentiation is when a stem cell becomes a more specialized cell type, like a shoot or leaf cell. The process of differentiation takes time but allows for plants to replace the cells and structures that have been damaged. However, not all injuries result in regeneration. Why is that?

Image Credit: Laura Ohl, Ph.D. / Science Buddies

Image portraying shoots (above ground) and roots (below ground) with a few additional labelled parts of the plant of note the shoot and root apical meristems of the vascular plant, with additional meristems on the shoot.

Figure 1: Parts of a plant. Apical meristems are at the ends of a plant (shoot or roots), while lateral meristems are throughout the shoot of a plant but not at the top of the shoot.

These factors help some plants regenerate better than others and make certain parts of plants better at regrowing. Knowing where stem cells are in plants can help us take better care of them, grow more plants, and have healthier crops. In this experiment, we will test the regenerative capacity at different parts of each plant and then contrast how well each plant can regenerate compared to the other plants. By studying plants, we can better understand their unique regenerative properties. Interestingly, not all plants have the same abilities, and understanding why could help us better understand regeneration. How can we test the regenerative capacity of different plants? 

Terms and Concepts

• Shoot
• Photosynthesis
• Regenerate
• Stem cells
• Regenerative capacity
• Differentiation
• Meristem
• Modularity

Questions

1. What is regeneration? 
2. Do all plants have a similar distribution of stem cells throughout the plant?
3. Do you think all of the plants you test will be able to regenerate? What informs your answer?

Materials and Equipment

• 4 Cups (any size as long as it fits a scallion and water to cover the roots at the bottom)

• Scissors

• Ruler

• Water 

• Recommended plants: 12 scallions, 3 aloe vera leaves, and 3 basil plants

Note: Some plants have difficulty regenerating because they don't respond well to plant hormones as they age. It's best to use younger or smaller plants to ensure they have a better chance of regenerating. 

This project follows the Scientific Method. Review the steps before you begin.

In this experiment, you will compare the ability of three plants to regrow (scallions, aloe vera, and basil) and test the regenerative capacity at different locations on each plant. You will start by preparing your plants for testing. Then you will cut each plant in different locations, place them in water, and track if or how they can regenerate over the next week. 

1. Clean the plants gently with water to remove dirt and physically remove any rotting roots or damaged shoots.
   1. For the scallion experiment, clean 4 individual scallions per experimental trial. We recommend doing 3 trials.
   2. For the aloe leaf, clean 1 individual leaf per experiment trial. We recommend doing 3 trials.
   3. For the basil plant, clean any dirt off the roots of 1 plant per experimental trial. We recommend doing 3 trials.
2. Mark on each plant where you will cut each plant with a marker. Make sure to cut each plant at a different location to determine where the plant regenerates best. See example data tables 1 and 2 below or the video at the top of this page for clarification.
   1. For the scallion experiment, mark each plant where you plan to cut, including (A) just above the roots, (B) 5 cm (~2 in) above the roots, (C) 10cm (~4 in) above the roots, and (D) 15cm (~6 in) above the roots.
   2. For the aloe leaf and basil plant, mark where you will cut the (A) top, (B) middle, and (C) bottom of the plant.
3. Cut each plant and place it in a cup with about 1 cm of water on the bottom (or enough to cover the bottom ½ cm of the plant or roots). Keep the amount of water the same for each plant.
4. Check the water levels every day. Plants need water to grow and regenerate, so don't let them dry out!
5. Replace water consistently every 2-3 days, and record when you change the water on all plants.
   1. Note: Make sure to keep this consistent for each plant. For example, if you change the water for one plant one day, change it for all plants in the experiment.
6. Check your plants daily for any changes, and record your observations in a data table, like the one below (See Table 1 and Table 2).
   1. For example: Write in your data table if the plant changes color, if any new growth is a different color, if the plant does or does not regenerate, when/if roots form, the color of the water, and anything else you notice. 
7. Measure any new growth with a ruler and add your measurements to your data table. Make sure to measure from the original cut site for each daily measurement.
8. Record observations of your plants for at least one week.
   1. Note: If you want to keep any healthy regenerated plants long-term, you can transfer them to some soil to see how long they can grow. Don't forget to water them!
9. Make sure to repeat your experiment with multiple trials (we recommend at least 3 trials) to ensure your results are reproducible.
   1. More Information: To read more about trials, see our page here.
10. Calculate the average growth rate over time. To do this, measure the highest growth point from the cut site on your final day of experimentation (day 7) by the total number of days the plant was observed.
    1. Example: 7 cm / 7 days = 1 cm of growth/day

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Swipe left to see more

Plant name: scallion
Cut plant region	Observations and measured growth (cut date)	Observations and measured growth (day 1)	Observations and measured growth (day 3)	Observations and measured growth (day 5)	Observations and measured growth (day 7)	Average growth rate (cm/day)
(A) At roots
(B) Just above roots (5cm/~2in)
(C) More above roots (10cm/~4in)
(D) High above roots (15cm/~6 in)

Table 1: Example data table for scallions

Swipe left to see more

Swipe left to see more

Plant name: aloe leaf or basil plant
Cut plant regions (leaf or whole plant)	Observations and measured growth (cut date)	Observations and measured growth (day 1)	Observations and measured growth (day 3)	Observations and measured growth (day 5)	Observations and measured growth (day 7)	Average growth rate (cm/day)
(A) Top
(B) Middle
(C) Bottom

Table 2: Example data table for aloe leaf and basil plant

Conclusions

• Graph each plant's growth rate over time. Is growth consistent or inconsistent over time? How does the average growth rate compare to growth on each individual day of observation? 
• Which plant in the scallion experiment had the most growth? From this information, what location on the scallion do you predict has the highest stem cell population?
• Which plant(s) grew back roots, and which plant(s) did not?
• How long did it take for the plant to regenerate back to its original length (if possible)?
• Which of the 3 plants had the most regeneration capacity and the least?
• How does new growth look compared to the original plant's color, texture, and size? Describe it.

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Global Goals

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) are a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.

This project explores topics key to Zero Hunger: End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture.

This project explores topics key to Sustainable Cities and Communities: Make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

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