Pollinating mother plant and collecting tissue samples

Summary

In this instructional video, viewers learn about plant pollination and identification. The presenter guides through the process of pollinating a mother plant using cotton swabs to transfer pollen from 'father' plants. Key plant parts like cotyledons, nodes, and hypocotyls are explained, with emphasis on their characteristics for identification. The video also covers the importance of recording plant color and taking samples for DNA analysis, setting the stage for a comprehensive lab on plant reproduction.

Takeaways

• 📚 Read lab manual pages 57 to 74 for instructions on plant pollination and sampling.
• 🌿 Learn the parts of a plant, including cotyledons (embryonic leaves) and true leaves (irregular shaped leaves).
• 🔍 Identify the node (where leaves emerge from the stem) and the internode (stem between nodes).
• 🟣 Recognize the hypocotyl (stem part below cotyledons), which is important for plant identification, with different colors like purple or green.
• 🌼 Understand the process of pollination using a cotton swab to transfer pollen from father plants to the mother plant.
• 🧑‍🔬 Pollinate the mother plant with pollen from both father plants (F1 and F2) without concern for mixing, as it's part of the experiment.
• 📝 Record the color of the hypocotyl for each father plant and the mother plant in the lab manual for later reference.
• 🧊 Store collected samples in the freezer for future DNA purification and analysis.
• 🌱 For father plants, take as many leaves as needed for the experiment, as they will be discarded afterward.
• 🌿 From the mother plant, take a cotyledon and a true leaf for sampling, ensuring not to harm the plant by taking too many leaves.

Q & A

What are the pages in the lab manual that students should read before the demonstration?

Students should read pages 57 to 74 in the lab manual.

What part of the plant is being discussed on page 70 of the lab manual?

On page 70, the lab manual discusses the various parts of a flower and plant, including the cotyledon.

What are cotyledons and how can they be recognized?

Cotyledons are the embryonic leaves that are the first to emerge from a plant. They can be recognized as smooth, rounded leaves that look different from the true leaves, which have an irregular shape.

What is a node and how is it different from an internode?

A node is the point on a stem where leaves emerge. An internode, on the other hand, is the section of the stem that lies between two nodes.

What is the hypocotyl and why is its color important?

The hypocotyl is the part of the stem that is below the cotyledons. Its color is important because it can be used to identify different plant varieties.

How does one pollinate the mother plant in the demonstration?

To pollinate the mother plant, one uses a cotton swab to roll over the flowers of the father plant and then transfers it to the flowers on the mother plant, transferring pollen in the process.

What is the significance of having both a father one and father two in the demonstration?

Having both father one and father two allows for the chance of either pollen type to pollinate the mother plant, and it will be part of the experiment to determine which father plant's pollen is successful.

What should be recorded for each plant after pollination?

After pollination, the color of the hypocotyl (non-purple for father one and purple for father two), the ID (F1 for father one and F2 for father two), and the section number should be recorded.

Why are leaves from the father plants discarded after sampling?

Leaves from the father plants are discarded after sampling because they are no longer needed for the experiment and will be analyzed separately.

What parts of the mother plant are taken for the experiment?

For the mother plant, a cotyledon and a true leaf are taken for the experiment, leaving the rest of the plant intact.

What will be done with the collected samples from the plants?

The collected samples will be stored in the freezer for later analysis, including DNA purification.