Percent Composition in PlantsBasilio, Chavez, Escudero, Evidente, Lirio

Introduction

Plants are composed of water, organic and inorganic matter.

Fresh plant matter is about 80-95% water.

Water is the principal constituent of plants and an essential component for the maintenance of life, growth and development.

Introduction

Organic matterHydrogen, Oxygen, Carbon

Drawn from the soil and the air, but generally through the absorption done by the roots.

Inorganic MatterPhosphorus, Sulfur, Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Silicon and other elements.

From the soil

Introduction

Determine the percent composition of water, organic and inorganic constituents of plants by the determination of fresh, dry and ash weight.

Methodology

two replicates, one species (flowering plant)

wash & blot

get fresh weight (record)

wrap in paper (label)

dry in oven (not >80ºC)

get dry weight (record)

Methodology

cut dried specimen

put in pre-weighed crucible

place in muffle furnace (550ºF)

cool & weigh ash content

ResultsTable 1: Percent Composition of Water, Organic and Inorganic Constituents in Vernonia sp.

ResultsTable 2: Percent Composition of Water, Organic and Inorganic Constituents in Catharanthus roseus.

Results

Table 3: Percent Composition of Water, Organic and Inorganic Constituents in Catharanthus roseus.

ResultsTable 4: Percent Composition of Water, Organic and Inorganic Constituents in Tridax sp.

Discussion

Chemicals and substances that function to maintain an internal balance in the body compose the cells and tissues of living organisms.

water, organic matter, and inorganic matter

WaterDepending on the type of plant, the water content in most fruits and vegetables accounts for approximately 70 to 95 percent of their weight.

© all rights reserved by 13thFOOL at Flickr

Parameter Replicate 1 Replicate 2 Average

Fresh weight (FW), gms 3.7 2.0 2.85

Dry weight (DW), gms 1 0.6 0.8

Ash weight (AW), gms 0.1 0.1 0.1

Percent water {(FW-DW)/FW} X100

72.97% 70% 71.49%

Percent dry matter {(DW/FW)X100}

27.03% 30% 28.52%

Percent inorganic matter (AW/FW)X100

2.703% 5% 3.85%

Percent organic matter %DW-%AW

24.33% 25% 24.67%

Water is the major component of living cells and constitutes more than 90% of protoplasm by volume and weight

• medium for the conduction and distribution of nutrients and other ions

• maintaining turgor pressure

Vernonia sp.

A herbaceous mesophyte

Source: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3d/Vernonia_cinerea.jpg

Organic matterCarbon-containing compounds

•carbohydrates,

• lipids,

• nucleic acids, and

•proteins

Parameter Replicate 1 Replicate 2 Average

Fresh weight (FW), gms 3.7 2.0 2.85

Dry weight (DW), gms 1 0.6 0.8

Ash weight (AW), gms 0.1 0.1 0.1

Percent water {(FW-DW)/FW} X100

72.97% 70% 71.49%

Percent dry matter {(DW/FW)X100}

27.03% 30% 28.52%

Percent inorganic matter (AW/FW)X100

2.703% 5% 3.85%

Percent organic matter %DW-%AW

24.33% 25% 24.67%

Pathway of lignin biosynthesis in angiosperm trees.Source: http://www.nature.com/nbt/journal/v20/n6/fig_tab/nbt0602-557_F1.html

Source: http://mpnforum.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/genome-project-cartoon.png

Inorganic matter

Macronutrients

Micronutrients

Parameter Replicate 1 Replicate 2 Average

Fresh weight (FW), gms 3.7 2.0 2.85

Dry weight (DW), gms 1 0.6 0.8

Ash weight (AW), gms 0.1 0.1 0.1

Percent water {(FW-DW)/FW} X100

72.97% 70% 71.49%

Percent dry matter {(DW/FW)X100}

27.03% 30% 28.52%

Percent inorganic matter (AW/FW)X100

2.703% 5% 3.85%

Percent organic matter %DW-%AW

24.33% 25% 24.67%

Conclusion

Why study the percent composition of plants

understand physiology and morphology

environmental conditions

health condition

Conclusion

Generally, plants are composed of:Water

organic matter

inorganic matter

Conclusion

Vernonia sp. (Asteraceae) water (71.49%) > organic matter (24.67%) > inorganic matter (3.85%)