Effect Of Sugar On Bean Plant Growth

Abstract

This project was to determine if bean plants grew stronger and healthier by the addition of the right amount of sugar to their watering. I believe that plants that receive 50 grams of sugar per liter of water would help bean plants grow to be stronger, healthier and larger because they would get energy from the sugar.

Chapter One

Introduction

1.1 Background of the Study

Sugar water stress affects practically every aspect of plant growth and metabolism. Plant responses to sugar water deficit depend upon various factors such as duration and degree of stress, growth stage, and time of stress exposure (Gupta and Sheoran, 1983). Due to their sedentary mode of life, plants resort to many adaptive strategies in response to different abiotic stresses such as high salt, dehydration, cold, and heat, which ultimately affect plant growth and productivity (Gill et al., 2003).

Against these stresses, plants adapt themselves by different mechanisms including change in morphological and developmental patterns as well as physiological and biochemical responses (Bohnert et al., 1995). Adaptation to all these stresses is associated with metabolic adjustments that lead to the modulation of different enzymes (Shinozaki and Shinozaki, 1996; Yan et al., 2001; Ehsanpour and Amini, 2003).

Among these enzymes are phosphatases, which are believed to be important for many physiological processes, including regulation of soluble phosphorous (Pi) (Yan et al., 2001). Phosphatases are traditionally classified as being acid and alkaline depending on their optimum pH for enzyme activity, above and below pH 7.0 (Barret-Lennard et al., 1982).

Free soluble phosphate reserves play a vital role in energy transfer, metabolic regulation, important structural constituent of biomolecules like phytin bodies in the ingeminated seeds, protein and nucleotide phosphorylation (Fincher 1989; Ehsanpour and Amini, 2003).

Although some abiotic stresses like salt, osmotic and sugar water have been reported to increase phosphatase activities by maintaining a certain level of inorganic phosphate in plant cells (Olmos and Hellin, 1997), the exact role of phosphatases in the germinated seeds is still not clear, because the metabolism of these compounds can be affected by a number of environmental factors such as stress type, irradiance, temperature, and type of ions present (Bohnert et al., 1995).

Germination of grains is initiated by sugar water uptake and its successful completion is signaled by the emergence of the developing root and shoots. Following uptake of water, hormone signals, probably released from the emergence, are believed to result in the synthesis of hydrolytic and other enzymes in the endosperm (Fincher, 1989).

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The vital needs of a plant are very much like our own – light, water, air, nutrients, and proper temperature. The relative importance of each of these needs differs widely among plants. The ability of a plant species to spread throughout a geographic area is a direct result of its adaption to the abiotic and biotic components of the area.

Although most habitat components act on a plant simultaneously and should be considered together, the lack of one essential component can determine the health of a plant. This factor, whatever it may be, is referred to as a limiting factor. The concept of limiting factors applies to all aspects of a plant’s interaction with its habitat. Any factor in the ecosystem can act as a limiting factor.

1.3 Research Objective

The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of sugar on bean plant growth.

1.4 Scope of the Study

This study concerns about the effect of sugar on bean plant growth.

1.5 Limitation of the Study

There is no study undertaken by a researcher that is perfect. The imperfection of any research is always due to some factors negatively affecting a researcher in the course of carrying out research. Therefore, time constraint has shown no mercy to the research. The limited time has to be shared among many alternative uses, which includes reading, attending lectures and writing of this research, also distance and its attendant costs of travelling to obtain information which may enhance the writing of this study was a major limitation.

Chapter Five

Conclusion and Recommendation

5.1 Conclusion

In conclusion beans dressed with 10ml had more number of leaves, better plant height and more number of pods at harvest. However there was significant difference among the treatments at (p>0.05).

5.2 Recommendation

Since there was significant difference among the treatments, it is therefore recommended that beans should be dressed with 10ml of sugar concentration so as to have better yield.