Investigating transport in plants- Experiments

Question 1

Who did the ringing experiment (1928)

Answer 1

Mason and Maskell

Question 2

What was the procedure of the ringing experiment? What did they conclude?

Answer 2

They demonstrated that removing a complete ring of bark and leaving the xylem intact prevented the downward movement of sugar and that the phloem is removed with bark. This ringing has no effect on transpiration. Bark below girdle dies, bark above remains healthy. Concluded sugar is transported in the bark and phloem was the route

Question 3

What is autoradiography?

Answer 3

When a plant is exposed to an atmosphere with 14CO2 (radioactive carbon dioxide) the carbohydrates are synthesised using this labelled carbon. The movement of the carbohydrates in the plant is then traced using photographic film, which blackens when exposed to the isotope, revealing the location of the carbohydrates.

Question 4

What experiment is autoradiography used for?

Answer 4

Radioactive Tracer Experiments