If Solar Radiation Increases: Is Our Food Supply at Risk?

Overview

Objectives/Goals Introduction: Increasing amounts of ionizing radiation are passing through to the earth because of ozone depletion. What is the effect of ionizing radiation on plants? Methods/Materials Procedure: Five groups of corn, and five groups of soybeans were radiated ranging from no radiation to high doses of radiation. The groups were radiated three times per week for four weeks and measured for germination and growth. Results The treated plants germinated more quickly and grew faster, initially. The germination and growth of corn by the end of the experiment was similar for all groups. However, increasing doses of radiation impacted the germination of soybeans, the highest dose group had a 13% reduction of germination compared to the control. The growth of soybeans at the end of the experiment was similar for all groups. Conclusions/Discussion Conclusion: We found that our hypothesis was only partially correct. Unexpectedly, the radiation appeared to cause faster germination and faster growth initially. However, by the end of the four-week experiment the radiated plants growth rate slowed, while the control groups growth rates increased. If the changes in germination and growth rates are seen over the life of the plants the radiation impact on agriculture may be significant.

Competition history

• CSEF 2009 Toxicology (Junior Division Only) · Entry J2302

Resources

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