The root system is the main organ of the plant body, and its growth is closely related to the speed of water and mineral uptake by the plant. Therefore, it is often necessary to measure the growth of the root system. Through the experiment, master the principle and method of root volume determination.
Operation method
Root Volume Measurement Experiment
Principle
The surface of the water rises when the root system is immersed in water, and the volume of the water in the raised portion is measured to find the volume of the root system.
Materials and Instruments
Microburette Acid Burette Coarse Glass Tube Fine Glass Tube Rubber Tube Fixed Rack Pipettes Suction Earballs Move 1. Device for determining root volume For more product details, please visit Aladdin Scientific website.
A rubber tube is used to connect the thick and thin glass tubes used as a volumetric instrument, the latter being fixed on a clamp at an angle of inclination to the horizontal plane. The smaller the angle, the higher the sensitivity of the instrument. Volumeter is fixed on another clamp, on which a burette is fixed, the whole device right as shown in the figure.
2. Determination of root volume
(1) Add water into the volumeter, the amount of water is appropriate to estimate the root system can be submerged. Adjust the position of the fine glass tube so that the water surface is at the end near the rubber tube and make a mark A1 on the fine glass tube.
(2) Carefully cut the root system from the base of the plant and gently rinse it with tap water until there is no sand on the root system. Care should be taken to keep the root system intact and not to break the young roots. After carefully draining the root surface with absorbent paper, immerse the root system in water in the volumetric gauge and make a mark A2 as the water rises to a new position in the fine glass tube.
(3) Use a 2 ml pipette to draw water from the volumeter until the surface of the water drops from A2 to A1, and the amount of water drawn from the pipette is read as the volume of the root system being measured. Measure the volume of the root system set