Analysis of Osmosis and Water Potential in Potato Cells - Biology

This report presents the findings of a biology lab experiment investigating plant water potential using potato cells and sucrose solutions. The objective was to determine the water potential of potato root tissues by observing water uptake or loss in different sucrose solutions. The hypothesis predicted that potato cells in deionized water would gain the most weight due to osmosis. The experiment involved placing potato cores in sucrose solutions of varying molarities and measuring changes in mass. The results supported the hypothesis, with the highest water gain observed in pure water. The report discusses the principles of osmosis, solute and pressure potential, and their impact on plant cell turgor pressure. The report concludes with a discussion of the results, the calculation of water potential, and potential improvements to the experiment, such as using different solute concentrations or fertilizer solutions. The report highlights the importance of water potential for plant health and function and provides a comprehensive analysis of the experimental findings.

Running Head: PLANT PSYCHOLOGY
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PLANT PSYCHOLOGY

Abstract
There is a requirement of osmosis for all plant cells to stay healthy as osmosis allows to turgor
pressure which allows all plants to remain stiff. Determination of the solute application will
support to found the water potential in a lab that is within equilibrium by potato cells. This is a
hypothesis that potato cells will achieve the maximum weight within the deionized water by no
solute dissolved as there should be a high concentration of water outside of potato cells that
make the capability to absorb the water by osmosis. There was 0.1 to 0.6 M overall six potato
cores placed within the pure water sucrose solutions for one hour. Change within the mass was
measured and utilized to calculate the level of entered water or left within the potato cells. The
most water gain was pure water at the class average of 7.9% through the mass. The potato core
within the utmost molarity solution 0.6M sucrose had lost the most weight through the class
average of -10.0% change within the mass. For potato cells, the best molarity for a solution to be
within 0 molarity solution otherwise pure water. Potato cell's water potential was determined ψ =
-7.5.

Table of Contents
Abstract.......................................................................................................................................................1
Objective.....................................................................................................................................................3
Introduction.................................................................................................................................................3
Discussion....................................................................................................................................................3
Results.........................................................................................................................................................4

Objective
The lab objective is to identify the potential of water of potato root tissues. We will observe
uptake or loss of water through tissues within the sucrose explanations to find an isotonic
resolution through water prospective equal to the problem.
Introduction
Potential of water (ψ) is ration of driving force which governs water movement from the soil into
plants and the environment. Potential of water is energy per unit volume contained within the
system (such as soil, plant cell) and expressed in megapascals units. Plant cell's water potential is
made by important components such as solute and pressure potential. Solute potential (ψs)
depends on the concentration on a solid level. Pressure potential (ψP) depends on the relationship
within the components ψ= ψs + ψp.
Cell overall water potential is denoted by the ψ. Ψs is known as the solute potential present the
contribution made through the dissolved solutes to the ψ. The water potential is always decreased
due to the addition of dissolved solutes within a system as its section is always negative.
Ψp is known as pressure potential and present contribution which is made through the pressure to
ψ. Wholly turgid cells that plasma members are persuasive against the cell wall has a positive
ψp. There is negative p if cells within the tension and like within the xylem throughout active
evapotranspiration.
Discussion
The prior question within the lab was the level of water and how to calculate the potential of the
water of potato cells. The hypothesis was that if potato placed within the water than gain the
most water and either placed in high molarity sucrose resolution will lose most of the mass.
According to the results, the hypothesis was supported. Average of 7.9% mass was gained by the
pure water in the potato core or almost 0.3 grams. Gained weight was decreasing unless the
potato was no longer within the hypotonic solution, around 0.3M sucrose resolution. Past by
morality, cells of potato started to drop weight. Potato cells water potential through ψw = -7.5. For
plant pure water is known as the best as the potential of water is the high, 0, allowing for high

probable water absorption as water will regularly flow from high to the low level of water
potential. Potato cells such as whole plant cells have cell walls. It allows the cells of plants to
absorb plenty of water as can and not lyse but only stop while turgor pressure hits the limit. This
kind of pressure is important to plant as it provides rigidity and support things which essential for
the healthy function.
There is a chance to improve the experiments that use of particular molarities of sucrose solution
like 0.32M and 0.34Msucrosse resolutions. It will allow the more accurate presentation of water
potential true value of potato cells. There is an option that experimentation can comprise the
water with fertilizer in place of sucrose. It will allow scientists to know about the level of
fertilizer which is effective for the plant as a high level will minimize the soil water potential. If
a plant is within the hypertonic atmosphere that result will be flowing of water out of the plant. It
is unfavorable to plant due to the without water as the plant cannot perform the necessary
functions and lose the form and die if left within the hypertonic situations.
Results
Every potato loses and gains the diverse amount of the water which depending on the tumbler it
was in. potato core within the pure water gained water with an average of 7.9 percent weight
increase. While the sucrose solution molarity went up, the amount of water gained by the potato
reduced until the molarity went preceding 0.3. After it 0.3M sucrose resolution, potato in full
swing lose the water in place of gaining in which potato is within the equilibrium would signify
potato cells water potential; ψw = -7.5