Practical Biology Report

Effect of plant hormones on growth

What effects does auxin (Indole-3-acetic acid) have in different concentrations of a plant
hormone on root growth?
Invernizzi Davide
Group 12ib pre-IB
Trine Lindstrom
22 March 2023

Introduction

1
Auxins are a class of plant hormones that are known to play a crucial role in regulating plant
growth and development, including root growth. One of the most widely studied auxins is
Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), which has been shown to have concentration-dependent effects on
plant growth. Understanding the effects of different concentrations of IAA on root growth is
important for developing strategies to optimize plant growth and improve crop yields. In this
report, I will investigate the effects of IAA in different concentrations of plant hormone on root
growth. After the practice of this experiment, I will be investigating by analyzing how the root
growth will be affected by the different concentration of auxin.

What effects does auxin (Indole-3-acetic acid) have in different concentrations of a plant
hormone on root growth?

Hypothesis
As for the final outcome of this experiment I predict that the low concentrations of IAA may
promote root growth, while higher concentrations may have an inhibitory effect. Specifically, I
expect that intermediate concentrations of IAA will have the greatest positive effect on root
growth, while very low or very high concentrations will have a negative effect.

Apparatus

● Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)

● Alcohol

● Measuring cylinder

2
● Beakers

● Plant e.g. Ivy (Hedera helix)

● Soil or plant compost

● Scalpel

● Digital balance/scale

Methodology

1. First, a 5% solution of IAA should be made (this is done by the technician)

a. As IAA is insoluble in water, this solution should be made in alcohol

b. Label this as 'Solution A'

2. Serial dilutions of the 5% IAA solution should then be made:

- Solution B (0.5%)
- Solution C (0.05%)
- Solution D (0.005%)
- Solution E (0.0005%)

3. Make a table and use it to calculate how you can make 10 mL of the above dilutions using solution A.

4. 6 cuttings should then be taken from the same plant e.g. Ivy (Hedera helix)

5. Dip the ends of 1 cutting into Solution A and place the cuttings into soil or plant compost (dipped-end
down) a. Repeat this process with Solutions B, C, D and E

6. Use the final cutting as a control group by dipping their ends in the alcohol used to make the IAA
solutions and then placing them into the soil or plant compost (dipped-end down)

7. After a set time period (e.g. 1 week, during which the cuttings should be regularly watered) carefully
remove all the cuttings

8. For each cutting, carefully remove all the roots and weigh them. Note your results in a table

Raw Data Table:

Analysis

3
After calculating the standard deviation, mean and correlation coefficient, these were my results.

Standard deviation

As the given raw data, the results for the standard deviation values are:

1. 0,006164414003
2. 0,01123689713
3. 0,02335402994
4. 0,004105745104
5. 0,00175254916
6. 0,001752549164
7. 0,00138873015

These values are representing the amount of spread and variation of the data points in each
group. Taking, as an example for small deviation values, in this case 6 and 7 indicating that the
data points on the graph will be closely clustered around the mean. While for a larger deviation
value, you can notice that number 3, having a higher value, will be showing that the data points
are spread over a much larger range of values.

Mean
The mean of a set of data is a measure of central tendency that represents the average value of all the data
points in the set. It is calculated by adding up all the values in the dataset and then dividing that sum by
the total number of values in the dataset.

Correlation Coefficient and Values Graph

After my calculations based on the data given from the

spreadsheet, the correlation coefficient results as -0.14.
This number indicates the linear relationship between the
IAA concentration and the mean value.
It is denoted by "r" and ranges from -1 to +1. A
positive value of "r" indicates a positive correlation,
which means that as one variable increases, the other
variable also tends to increase. A negative value of
"r" indicates a negative correlation, which means that
as one variable increases, the other variable tends to
decrease. A value of 0 indicates no correlation. In
this case, having -0,14 as a result, the conclusion is that there is a negative correlation which

4
means that one variable increases while the other tends to decrease. This negative correlation
coefficient seems to be showing that the raw data given from the students is negatively
correlated.

Dependent variables:

During this experiment, there were several factors that could vary and affect the outcome of the
experiment. Some of these factors include:

- Duration of treatment: The duration of IAA treatment can also vary and affect the
outcome of the experiment. Longer treatment durations may result in greater growth
responses.
- Environmental factors: Environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and light
intensity can also affect plant growth and may need to be controlled or monitored during
the experiment.
- Nutrient availability: Nutrient availability can also influence plant growth responses to
IAA. It is important to ensure that all plants are grown under similar nutrient conditions
to minimize the effect of this factor on the experiment.
- Growth stage of plant: The growth stage of the plant at the time of treatment can also
affect the response to IAA. Younger plants may be more sensitive to IAA than older
plants, and vice versa.

Conclusion

In conclusion after answering the question ‘What effects does auxin (Indole-3-acetic acid) have
in different concentrations of a plant hormone on root growth?’ I can define that apart from the
dependent variables present during the experiment process, the growth of the plant roots is
unrelated to the concentration of IAA, showing that the size doesn’t differ by much if the
concentration increases.In order to respond to the study question, "What are the effects of auxin
(Indole-3-acetic acid) on root growth at different concentrations?" we must assess the
information that has been supplied. The raw data table indicates that when the auxin
concentration is higher, you may occasionally get a tall root. A low standard deviation number,
like the one for 3, also indicates that the data points are closely clustered around the mean. A
high standard deviation value, like the ones for 6 and 7, on the other hand, denotes that the data
points are dispersed over a wider range.

5
6