Post-16: Plant Project Starters

Produced by Science & Plants for Schools (SAPS), these resources contain ideas for extended investigations into a range of plant topics such as growth, competition, enzyme activity and the ripening process. Also included are some practical activities investigating fungal growth. The projects are suitable for students working at post-16 level.

The materials contain ideas and also guidance on how to perform the suggested activities. Most contain information on methods and materials, although the idea is for students to develop their own investigations from these suggestions.

The topics covered include:

• Respiration changes during fruit ripening and storage
• Doubling and dabbling in duckweed
• Autolysis in yeast
• Investigating antimicrobials
• Inhibitory growth effects of conifers
• Antifungals: inhibition of fungal growth
• Ethene: plant growth and ripening
• Enzyme activity in fruits and vegetables
• Colour changes in ripening fruits and vegetables
• Catechol oxidase activity in fruits and vegetables
• Water potential during ripening and storage
• Sweet or sour? Sugars and acids in fruit ripening
• Sucrose and growth of root explants
• ​Investigating vernalisation and creating genetic crosses