Percent Composition in Plants Basilio, Chavez, Escudero, Evidente, Lirio
Dec 15, 2014
Percent Composition in PlantsBasilio, Chavez, Escudero, Evidente, Lirio
Introduction
Plants are composed of water, organic and inorganic matter.
Fresh plant matter is about 80-95% water.
Water is the principal constituent of plants and an essential component for the maintenance of life, growth and development.
Introduction
Organic matterHydrogen, Oxygen, Carbon
Drawn from the soil and the air, but generally through the absorption done by the roots.
Inorganic MatterPhosphorus, Sulfur, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Silicon and other elements.
From the soil
Introduction
Determine the percent composition of water, organic and inorganic constituents of plants by the determination of fresh, dry and ash weight.
Methodology
two replicates, one species (flowering plant)
wash & blot
get fresh weight (record)
wrap in paper (label)
dry in oven (not >80ºC)
get dry weight (record)
Methodology
cut dried specimen
put in pre-weighed crucible
place in muffle furnace (550ºF)
cool & weigh ash content
ResultsTable 1: Percent Composition of Water, Organic and Inorganic Constituents in Vernonia sp.
ResultsTable 2: Percent Composition of Water, Organic and Inorganic Constituents in Catharanthus roseus.
Results
Table 3: Percent Composition of Water, Organic and Inorganic Constituents in Catharanthus roseus.
ResultsTable 4: Percent Composition of Water, Organic and Inorganic Constituents in Tridax sp.
Discussion
Chemicals and substances that function to maintain an internal balance in the body compose the cells and tissues of living organisms.
water, organic matter, and inorganic matter
WaterDepending on the type of plant, the water content in most fruits and vegetables accounts for approximately 70 to 95 percent of their weight.
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Parameter Replicate 1 Replicate 2 Average
Fresh weight (FW), gms 3.7 2.0 2.85
Dry weight (DW), gms 1 0.6 0.8
Ash weight (AW), gms 0.1 0.1 0.1
Percent water {(FW-DW)/FW} X100
72.97% 70% 71.49%
Percent dry matter {(DW/FW)X100}
27.03% 30% 28.52%
Percent inorganic matter (AW/FW)X100
2.703% 5% 3.85%
Percent organic matter %DW-%AW
24.33% 25% 24.67%
Water is the major component of living cells and constitutes more than 90% of protoplasm by volume and weight
• medium for the conduction and distribution of nutrients and other ions
• maintaining turgor pressure
Vernonia sp.
A herbaceous mesophyte
Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3d/Vernonia_cinerea.jpg
Organic matterCarbon-containing compounds
•carbohydrates,
• lipids,
• nucleic acids, and
•proteins
Parameter Replicate 1 Replicate 2 Average
Fresh weight (FW), gms 3.7 2.0 2.85
Dry weight (DW), gms 1 0.6 0.8
Ash weight (AW), gms 0.1 0.1 0.1
Percent water {(FW-DW)/FW} X100
72.97% 70% 71.49%
Percent dry matter {(DW/FW)X100}
27.03% 30% 28.52%
Percent inorganic matter (AW/FW)X100
2.703% 5% 3.85%
Percent organic matter %DW-%AW
24.33% 25% 24.67%
Pathway of lignin biosynthesis in angiosperm trees.Source: http://www.nature.com/nbt/journal/v20/n6/fig_tab/nbt0602-557_F1.html
Source: http://mpnforum.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/genome-project-cartoon.png
Inorganic matter
Macronutrients
Micronutrients
Parameter Replicate 1 Replicate 2 Average
Fresh weight (FW), gms 3.7 2.0 2.85
Dry weight (DW), gms 1 0.6 0.8
Ash weight (AW), gms 0.1 0.1 0.1
Percent water {(FW-DW)/FW} X100
72.97% 70% 71.49%
Percent dry matter {(DW/FW)X100}
27.03% 30% 28.52%
Percent inorganic matter (AW/FW)X100
2.703% 5% 3.85%
Percent organic matter %DW-%AW
24.33% 25% 24.67%
Conclusion
Why study the percent composition of plants
understand physiology and morphology
environmental conditions
health condition
Conclusion
Generally, plants are composed of:Water
organic matter
inorganic matter
Conclusion
Vernonia sp. (Asteraceae) water (71.49%) > organic matter (24.67%) > inorganic matter (3.85%)