Project Director

Edwards, Maurice E.

Department

Dept. of Biological and Environmental Sciences

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Abstract

Phytolacca americana, a plant species of eastern North America, is widely known as a plant of multiple uses in traditional medicine, a source of contemporary research compounds, and as a pot herb when correctly prepared for human consumption. Experimental conditions that promote rapid laboratory germination and the role of chemical factors in the germination process are being investigated in P. americana. The role of potassium ions in plant metabolism, especially the process of seed germination, is reviewed. Experiments were designed, the results of which are presented and discussed, to determine (1) the effect of exogenously applied salts of K+ on seed germination of two different populations of Phytolacca americana, (2) if a known precipitator of K+ affects germination, and (3) if aged seeds respond differently from unaged seeds to the presence of exogenously applied K+.

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Dr. Maurice E. Edwards for his advice and for his allowing me to be a part of his ongoing research. Thanks are due to Dr. Ben Gross for his donation of deionized water. Special appreciation is expressed to Mr. David Kim for his advice and help. This research was funded by a UTC Provost Student Research Grant.

Degree

B. S.; An honors thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Bachelor of Science.

Date

3-1989

Subject

Pokeweed--Preharvest sprouting--Effect of potassium on

Discipline

Plant Biology

Document Type

Theses

Extent

iv, 58 leaves

DCMI Type

Text

Language

English

Call Number

LB2369.5 .S584 1989

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Download

Included in

Plant Biology Commons

Share

COinS