BIOLOGY FORM 5 2021

PROJECT-BASED LEARNING 2
TRANSPORT OF WATER AND MINERAL SALTS

NAME : DAVID CHANG GUM WAI

CLASS : 5 STEM 1

TEACHER : MADAM ONG SIEW CHOOI

Background
In plants, minerals and water are transported through the xylem tissue from the soil to the

leaves. Three mechanisms are involved in the transportation in plants, which are (1) root

pressure, (2) capillary action and (3) transpiration pull. Transpiration pull is the main force

causing the passage of water and minerals in plants with the help of capillary action of

xylem produced by adhesion and cohesion forces. During transpiration, water vapour is

lost from the surface of the mesophyll of leaves through the opened stoma. Spongy

mesophyll cells then lose water and become low in water potential. Water molecules will

diffuse from neighbouring cells to spongy mesophyll cells by osmosis. This creates a

transpiration pull that pulls up the entire water column in the xylem vessel all the way to

the leaves, resulting in the transport of water and mineral salts to take place in plants.

Aim

To produce multi-coloured flowers by applying the concept of water transport in xylem.

Materials Apparatus
1. 2 pieces of cabbages 1. Scissors

2. Food colourings of red and green 2. Two 1.5 litres water bottles

3. Spoon

Procedure
1. Cut the top of plastic bottles away to make containers.
2. Pour water into the plastic containers.
3. Add 3-4 drops of food colourings into each plastic container. Stir well with a spoon.
4. Immerse pieces of cabbages into the plastic containers as shown in Diagram 1.
5. Leave it for 12 hours and observe the changes.
Diagram 1: Set-up for the experiment.

Results

Diagram 2: Comparison between before and after 12 hours of immersion.

Diagram 3: A selfie photo taken with the set-up for the experiment.
Discussion
1. Why are cabbages used?

To enable colour changes to be more easily observable.

2. State the vascular tissue involved in the cabbage colouration.

Xylem tissue.

3. These cabbages with a variety of colours wilt faster compared to the

original cabbages if they are left in a vase containing water. Why?

Most pigment molecules found in textile dyes are toxic and too large to move along

the xylem vessels. Water transport in the xylem tissues becomes less efficient.

Conclusion
Water and mineral salt are transported in plants through xylem with the help of capillary

action of water in the xylem vessel during the transpiration process.

Note:

1. The colour changes of the cabbages is slower than expected. No significant changes

were observed prior 4 hours of immersion.

2. Cabbage used in this experiment had been stored in the fridge for a period of time.

3. It is possible for freshly-bought, white flowers or plants to have better results in

showing the process of transportation in plants.

Reported on: 24/10/2021