LAB VI. INDEPENDENT ANATOMICAL INVESTIGATION
OBJECTIVE:
Demonstrate your in-depth knowledge of plant anatomy by performing an
analysis of all the functional tissues of a plant species of your
choice.
You may find the tissue analysis section of this study on the anatomical basis for biophysical differences in two species of pine leaves a good example of this type of analysis.
PROCEDURES:
- Select a species of plant, other than Arabidopsis, that you have an interest in studying.
- Plan
a sampling method that will allow you to either grow or collect
material from the field and/or greenhouse which will allow you to
perform an in-depth analysis of the anatomy of the seeds, roots, stems,
and leaves, using the sectioning and histochemical techniques that you
have learned.
- Demonstrate
the depth of your knowledge of plant anatomy by using ImageJ to
measure each of the functional mature tissue regions in each of the
organs in absolute terms and in relative terms (% of entire organ
area/volume).
- Record your observations using the templates for seed, root, stem, and leaf components.
- Graduate students should prepare a class presentation of their analysis using powerpoint.