BIOL 114: Effects of the Petite Mutation on Brassica rapa Cholorphyll Concentration and Plant Growth
Location
Turner Gymnasium
Access Type
Campus Access Only
Entry Number
40
Start Date
4-5-2023 12:00 PM
End Date
4-5-2023 1:30 PM
College
Lynchburg College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Biology
Abstract
Wisconsin Fast Plants, otherwise known as Brassica rapa, are a plant which was subject to genetic breeding by Dr. Paul Williams. Brassica rapa is a small flowering plant that is often used in classroom experiments due to its small size, low-maintenance growing conditions, and quick life cycle. Despite the widespread use of B. rapa plants in classrooms, the research regarding mutant breeds is limited. Several mutant lines have been bred and briefly described, although not much is known about the actual genetic changes and therefore all the downstream effects of that mutation. Nine different mutant lines of Brassica rapa were grown to more carefully identify the phenotypes affected by the mutations. The petite mutant of Brassica rapa were grown over 4 weeks and chlorophyll concentration, height of plant, vegetative mass, and inflorescence mass were measured. The results supported the hypothesis that the petite mutant type would influence structure growth, and cause decreased height, decreased inflorescence mass, decreased vegetative mass. However the petite mutant type did not significantly influence the number of true leaves. The results of the second phenotype measurements did not support the second hypothesis that the petite mutant type would express an intense dark green leaf color due to increased chlorophyll concentration compared to the wild type.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Jamie L. Brooks
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BIOL 114: Effects of the Petite Mutation on Brassica rapa Cholorphyll Concentration and Plant Growth
Turner Gymnasium
Wisconsin Fast Plants, otherwise known as Brassica rapa, are a plant which was subject to genetic breeding by Dr. Paul Williams. Brassica rapa is a small flowering plant that is often used in classroom experiments due to its small size, low-maintenance growing conditions, and quick life cycle. Despite the widespread use of B. rapa plants in classrooms, the research regarding mutant breeds is limited. Several mutant lines have been bred and briefly described, although not much is known about the actual genetic changes and therefore all the downstream effects of that mutation. Nine different mutant lines of Brassica rapa were grown to more carefully identify the phenotypes affected by the mutations. The petite mutant of Brassica rapa were grown over 4 weeks and chlorophyll concentration, height of plant, vegetative mass, and inflorescence mass were measured. The results supported the hypothesis that the petite mutant type would influence structure growth, and cause decreased height, decreased inflorescence mass, decreased vegetative mass. However the petite mutant type did not significantly influence the number of true leaves. The results of the second phenotype measurements did not support the second hypothesis that the petite mutant type would express an intense dark green leaf color due to increased chlorophyll concentration compared to the wild type.