Shivshankar Chaitram

Bio Lab PD
Hypothesis:
In high sucrose concentration of 20%, pollen grain germination of Valencia increases while in
low sucrose concentrations of 10%, pollen grain germination of Valencia decreases over a period
of 12 hours.
Aim:
To determine if the pollen grain germination rate of Valencia and Seville in 20% would be
higher as compared to 10% sucrose concentration over a 12 hours’ period.
Materials: petri dish, microscope, distilled water, sucrose, spatula, 250ml graduated measuring
cylinders, Valencia flower and Seville flower pollen grains, agar, boric acid (Pre-made
standardized solution), calcium chloride (Pre-made standardized solution), potassium nitrate
(Pre-made standardized solution), Tris (Pre-made standardized solution)

Method:
1. Obtain the pollen grains from Valencia flowers.
2. Weigh 0.2g of the pollen grains.
3. Add 40 ml of 10% of agar to a petri dish.
4. Measure 100ml of distilled water into a boiling tube.
5. Weigh and add 20g of sucrose to the boiling tube and mix until it dissolves.
6. Measure 10 mg of boric acid from the litre bottle and add to the boiling tube.
7. Measure 362 mg of calcium chloride from the litre bottle and add to the boiling tube.
8. Measure 100 mg of potassium nitrate from the litre bottle and add to boiling tube.
9. Measure 130 mg Tris from a litre of solution and add to boiling tube.
10. Stir solution for 3 minutes.
11. Add the solution or medium to the petri dish containing the agar.
12. Add the pollen grains to the petri dish.
13. Store the petri dish in room temperature.
14. After 12 hours, observe growth under a microscope and record observations of amount
grown.
15. Repeat steps 2-14 with 10% and 0% sucrose concentrations.
Diagram:
Variables:
1. Manipulating Variable: Sucrose concentration.
2. Responding Variable: Weight of the pollen grains.
3. Controlled Variables: Weight of pollen grains, temperature, weight of agar.
On the x-axis is the sucrose concentration, on the y-axis is the weight of polle grains. The scale is
every 1cm on the x is 2% sucrose concentration. Every 1cm on the y is 0.01g.

Expected Results:
The petri dish with the 20% sugar concentration would have the most pollen grain germination
because it would have more sucrose which is optimum for pollen grain germination. The petri
dish with the 10% sucrose would have less pollen growth germination because it has less sucrose
needed for the pollen to germinate. The control containing no sucrose may not have any
germination or a slight germination due to the presence of the medium.
Limitations:
 Temperature of surroundings
 Humidity of surroundings
Precautions:
 Wear goggles and gloves to protect eyes and skin from boric acid which could cause skin
and eye irritation.