5 - Experiment 1 - Cell Water Potential PDF
5 - Experiment 1 - Cell Water Potential PDF
5 - Experiment 1 - Cell Water Potential PDF
Experiment 1
The tendency of water to move into or within a system, such as a plant or animal tissue,
the soil or the atmosphere can be measured as the amount of energy per unit volume (or
pressure). Such values, expressed in units of bars or megapascals (MPa) is referred to as the
water potential of the cell and may be computed mathematically as:
Equation (1 –1): Ψ = Ψs + Ψ p + Ψ m
Materials:
Plant samples (potato, sweet potato, radish, turnips, cucumber)*
Sugar solutions (0.1m; 0.2m; 0.3m; 0.4m; 0.5m; 0.6m; 0.7m)
Distilled water
Balances and weighing paper
Plastic cups
Basin
Sugar
Salt
Funnel, 150mm
Erlenmeyer flasks, 250 ml
Paper towels/filter paper
Blender
Heidenhain (freezing) thermometer / Radioshack Infrared Thermometer
Chopping board
Magnetic stirrers with stir bars
Parafilm
Knife
Ruler
Cheesecloth
*Laboratory instructor may modify this list. Do not wash the plant samples.
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Equation (1–2): ∆W = W f − Wi
∆W
Equation (1–3): % ∆W = x100
Wi
where: Wi = initial weight of the cylinders;
Wf = final weight of the cylinders.
7. Tabulate all results. Plot % change in weight vs. sucrose concentration. Draw the best-fit
straight line through the points.
8. Determine molal concentration of sucrose that gives 0% change in weight. Compute for
Ψs in bars of that sucrose solution using the formula:
Equation (1–4): Ψs = -miRT
where: m = molality; (NOTE: 1 molal = 1 x 103 mol m-3 H2O)
i = ionization constant = 1 for sucrose
R = gas constant = 8.31 J K-1 mol-1
T = room temperature in K (oC + 273)
NOTE: For uniformity, room temperature is computed at 26oC
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9. Determine the water potential of the potato assuming that Ψm is very small and therefore
negligible. Convert unit of J m-3 (energy per unit volume, pressure which is equivalent
to Pa) to MPa by dividing computed value by 106.
NOTE: In a free standing solution, Ψp = 0; so Ψ = Ψs.
Procedure:
Sap extraction
1. Peel 2 – 4 potatoes, chop and place in a blender. Leftovers from Part I may be used. Puree
the tissue.
2. Filter blended potato with cheesecloth to remove cell wall and debris. Store in covered
beaker / plastic cup.
Freezing point determination
3. Immerse Heidenhain thermometer in crushed ice – salt bath. Record reading.
4. Pour 60ml sap in 250ml Erlenmeyer flask with magnetic stirring bar and insert
thermometer. Surround flask with ice–salt bath (see Figure 1–1). Stir vigorously.
5. When temperature reads about 1oC, read temperature every 10 sec.
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Heidenhain thermometer
Beaker
Ice-salt bath
Stir bar
Sap extract
Magnetic stirrer 4
5 6
7 4
5 6
7
3 8 3 8
2 9 2 9
1 11 1 10
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Experiment 1
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Guide Questions:
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