The Effects of Fertilizer on the Growth of Wisconsin Fast Plants

The Effects of Fertilizer on the Growth of Wisconsin Fast Plants

Mel Velas

Syed Navi, and Kathleen Schnell

Lab Biology Period 8

I certify that this work is solely my own.

Mel Velas

Introduction

The Wisconsin Fast Plant, also known as the Brassica rapa, was developed by Professor Emeritus Paul H. Williams in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Wisconsin Madison. Dr. Williams engineered the rapid-cycling Brassica rapa plant by crossbreeding Brassica rapa with six related species from the family Cruciferae for shorter life cycles. After breeding these plants together, it created small, quick growing-plants known as Fast Plants.

Wisconsin Fast Plants have a life cycle that leads to quick growth, early sprouting, and harvestable seeds. This cycle happens within 40 days of planting. Between days one and three the radicle (embryonic root) and seedlings emerge from the soil. Also, two cotyledons appear and the hypocotyl extends upward. Cotyledons are also known as seed leaves. Between days five and nine, the cotyledons enlarge while true leaves and flower buds begin to appear. Between days thirteen and seventeen the flowers open and can be cross-pollinated, which means from one plant to another.

As you get to day twenty (the halfway mark of the 40 day cycle) the petals drop from the pollinated flowers and the pods elongate and swell. Between days twenty-three and twenty-six the seeds mature and ripen, while lower leaves begin to yellow and dry. At about day thirty-six (twenty days after final pollination) the plants are removed from the water. At the ending of the cycle (days thirty-six to forty) the Wisconsin Fast Plants begin to dry down and the pods turn yellow. Lastly, the pods can be removed from the dried plants and the seeds can be harvested on day forty.

Because of their fast 40-day cycle (which was explained in the above paragraphs) these plants are very significant to scientists. Scientists can use them for demonstration...