Experiment: Growing Tomato Plants Under Light

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Growing tomato seeds
Observation
Questioning
Hypothesis
Testing
Results
Explanation
Conclusion
Reference

Introduction

Plants are wonders and are of great nature and subject for several science projects. The growth of plants is affected by factors such as temperature, warmth, fertilizer, soil and light which can easily be manipulated. The scientific experiments become enjoyable, edifying and economical when plants are grown out of leaves, cuttings and different seedlings this in turn results to economically higher yields (Leonard, 1979, p.69).

Growing tomato seeds

Before sowing, moisturize the tomato seeds in warm water. No soil is required for the growing mixture best for starting tomato seeds. Sow the tomato seeds by burying them a quarter inch deep into the growing mixture. Tomato seeds should be sown deeply to avoid the drying up of the seeds before their germination in order to facilitate effective growth.

Once the tomato seeds have germinated that is after about six to eight weeks move the young seedlings and transplant them into the gardens where there is light. Delay in doing this could lead to transformation of the seedlings into undernourished plants as a result of over extension in an attempt to find sunlight. (Abdulla and Verkerk, 1968, p.12).

Young tomato plants grown from seeds require a minimum of six hours of direct sunlight to flourish. If finding sufficient source of sunlight is a problem the synthetic light sources like light bulbs can be installed taking into consideration that they are very much close to the tomato plant since they do not produce light to cover an extensive of area.

For example I planted three tomato plants using tomato seeds in one pot. After germination i.e. after six weeks I transplanted two seedlings. The first seedling was planted into a garden under a condition of strong direct sunlight of about six to eight hours daily and was far away from the light source. The second seedling was planted indoors and was provided with grow light of between fourteen to eighteen hours daily and was kept very close to the light source. The third seedling, I transplanted three weeks later in a garden situated under a shade.

Observation

The first seedling grew into a taller and thinner plant. The second seedling grew into a shorter and stronger plant. The third seedling, before being transplanted was trailing out of the pot and was undernourished and weak as a result of over-extension in trying to get sunlight. It had also developed some yellow leaves. After transplantation its growth was slow and stunted.

Questioning

Do tomato plants grow towards light?
What effect will delay in transferring the germinated tomato seed for transplantation have to the seedling?
What effect does the amount of light have on the height of a tomato plant?

Hypothesis

Now that I have the questions in mind I can decide what the solution might be.

Tomato plants will turn towards the direction of light as they grow.

Delay in transferring the germinated young tomato plant to the garden leads to transformation of the seedling into a thin malnourished seedling as a result of over extension in trying to receive light which shows that the germinated plant is highly dependent on the light for its effective growth.

Tomato plants will grow taller and thinner when they are far away from the light and when there is less light intensity. Tomato plants grown indoors and kept close to the light source becomes shorter and stronger as a result of well nourishment (Wayands, 2003, p.22).

Testing

Having come up with the problem and the possible solution I can now test or design the experiment.

For example, carrying the test on the third seedling I transplanted it at the same time with the first two seeds i.e. after six weeks but keeping the light conditions under which it is planted constant. The time for transplanting is therefore going to be my variable.

Results

From the results, the tomato plants will turn towards the direction of the light as they are in their process of growth thus supporting the hypothesis.

Explanation

The explanation that addresses my question is as below. My question was the effect a delay in transplanting a young tomato seed has on the seedling and also whether tomato plants grow towards light.

The result of the test shows that when the third seedling was transplanted at the same time with the first two, it was not malnourished and had no yellow leaves. The seedling was not trailing out of the pot and therefore was strong. This shows that delayed transplantation makes the seedling to trail out of the pot in search of light making them thin and weary confirming therefore that tomato plants grow towards light (Leonard, 1979, p.71).

Conclusion

The experiment indeed proves that plants respond to light. From the test the hypothesis is supported. For instance when a seedling was not transplanted on time it trailed out of the pot in search of light, it was weak and some of its leaves had turned yellow due to lack of light.

Reference

Leornad, T. (1979). Understanding growth in the farm. Neth. J. Agric. Sci.16.69-72.

Abdulla, A.A. and Verkerk, K. (1968). Growth flowering and fruit-set of the tomato at higher temperature. Sci. 112: -12-14.

Wayands, G. (2003). Art and growth: Review of pollination and fruit set in the tomato Lycopersicon esculentum. Sci.12.22- 23.

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