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12-6-2021

BIOL 1411- Botany Laboratory Manual

Yolander R. Youngblood
Prairie View A&M University, yryoungblood@pvamu.edu

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 Botany Laboratory Manual

Yolander R. Youngblood, Ph.D.

Asst. Professor
Biology Department
Prairie View A & M University
Prairie View, TX USA
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Botany Laboratory Manual
By – Yolander R.Youngblood, PhD.

This manual was reviewed by student editors, Ayanna Montegut and Ineceia Carter.

Table of Contents

Laboratory Exercises Page Number

1. The Plant Cell Lab 5
2. Mitosis Lab 7
3. Plant Growth and Development Lab 8
4. Simple Tissue Lab 10
5. Leaf Lab 11
5. Stem Lab 12
6. Root Lab 13
7. Evolution of Land Plants Lab 14
8. Bryophyte Lab 15
9. Fern Lab 16
10. Gymnosperm Lab 17
11. Angiosperm Lab 18
12. Appendix 19
a. Writing in the Scientific Notebook
b. How to use the Microscope
c. Plants and Their Structure
d. Additional Video, Lecture, and Lab Resources

This textbook is an Open Educational Resource. It can be reused, remixed, and reedited freely without
seeking permission.

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The Plant Cell Lab
Introduction

Cells represent the basic unit of an organism. Plant cells are particularly unique because they
have plastids like chloroplasts and they have cell walls made of cellulose (see Plant Cells). The
purpose of this lab is to observe cells using the microscope.

Hypothesis – The plant cell will plasmolyze when placed in salt water.

https://youtu.be/TvQNRyWIKws

Methods

a. Draw the microscope in your lab notebook. Label the oculars, ocular head, objectives, coarse
focus adjustment knob, fine focus adjustment knob, light source, on/off switch, stage, iris
diaphragm, iris diaphragm lever, and x/y axis knobs. You may also wish to review how to use
the microscope when viewing a specimen https://youtu.be/I5AWck2JL58 .
b. View the Elodea leaf using the microscope - https://youtu.be/LTglday5zak . Observe the
nucleus, chloroplasts, cell walls, and vacuoles of these above ground cells.
c. Elodea cells exposed to a salt water or hypertonic solution - https://youtu.be/FHUk4CIpHAQ
Now draw this cell.
d. View the Onion epidermal peel and observe below ground cells.
https://www.kuensting.org/school/bb/special_topics/microscopy/cells/onion.html

Results

In your results section you will have the following drawings. Each drawing will have a caption
to tell what it is and why it is important.

(1) A drawing of your labelled compound microscope. (2) A drawing of your Elodea leaf cell.
Note the cell wall, nucleus, chloroplasts, and vacuole. (3) A drawing of your Elodea leaf cell
after it has been exposed to salt water. Note the cell wall, nucleus, chloroplasts, and vacuole. (4)
A drawing of the onion epidermal cell. Note the cell wall, nucleus, and vacuole.

Discussion/Conclusion

Refer back to the hypothesis first and tell whether the data support or do not support the
hypothesis. Then discuss anything significant about your drawings.

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Sample Scientific Notebook entry for The Plant Cell Lab

Introduction
The purpose of this lab is to observe cells using the microscope.
Hypothesis – The plant cell will plasmolyze when placed in salt water.

Drawing of Microscope

Methods and Results

1. Placed a drop of water on a slide then placed an Elodea elegans leaf on it and covered it
with a coverslip (This is called making a wet mount). Then viewed it with the compound
microscope and drew it below.
2. Placed a drop of salt water on a slide then placed an Elodea elegans leaf on it and
covered it with a coverslip (This is called making a wet mount). Then viewed it with the
compound microscope and drew it below.
3. Made a wet mount of onion epidermal peel. Then viewed it with the microscope and
drew it.

Elodea leaf cell

Elodea elegans leaf as seen with compound microscope at 10x. Note the cell wall, chloroplasts,
and vacuole.

Elodea leaf cell

Elodea elegans leaf with salt water as seen with the compound microscope at 10x. Note the cell
wall and cytoplasmic material. The cytoplasm, nucleus and vacuole have pulled away from the
cell wall.

Onion epidermal cell

Onion epidermal peel as seen with the compound microscope on 10x. Note the cell wall and
nucleus. These cells are not exposed to light. Chloroplasts are not visible.

Conclusion – (Refer back to the hypothesis, then discuss details about each drawing.)

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Mitosis Lab

Introduction
The purpose of this lab is to determine the time spent in different phases of Mitosis. Complete
the Online Onion Mitosis Assignment and include in your notebook. Be sure to draw the phases
of mitosis. (Additional material for review Multicellularity, Cell Cycle and Life Cycle ).

Interphase Prophase Metaphase Anaphase Telophase Total

Number
of Cells
Percent
of Cells 100%

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Plant Growth and Development Lab

Introduction
The purpose of this lab is to observe the growth and development of soybeans from seed to plant
with flower.

Hypothesis
My _____________ plant will grow from seed to flower in three weeks.

Methods
Grow your plants at home. Take a small pot and add potting soil. Record the type of soil. Place
4 soybean seeds in moist soil. Make sure the soil is loose and not packed. Place the pot in the
windowsill or in a spot where it gets plenty of natural light each day. Record your results in the
chart that you create and put in your results section.

Dates of
Observation

Date Planted

Number of
leaves present
Date of first
flower
Number of
flowers present

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Watch this video

Embryo of Dicot Seeds - MeitY OLabs

You can do the following with your hands and a small container of room temperature
water. The plumule and the radicle constitute the plant embryo.
a. Soak a white lima bean in water for about 4hrs – 6hrs.
b. Peel off the seed coat.
c. Open the two white cotyledons to reveal the plant embryo.
d. Draw and label the cotyledons, plumule, and radicle of the open bean seed in your
notebook.

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Simple Tissue Lab
Introduction

The purpose of this lab is to observe the three basic cell types found in plants (see Tissues and
Organs) .

Hypothesis – Each cell type will vary in its function, shape, and cell wall thickness.

Methods

View the following links and observe the parenchyma, collechyma and sclerynchyma cells.

https://www2.estrellamountain.edu/faculty/farabee/biobk/BioBookPLANTANAT.html#Parench
yma

Plant Structure and Form notes (OpenStax Biology textbook)

Results

Draw and label the three basic cell types that make up simple tissues in your notebook.

a. Parenchyma cell
b. Collenchyma /cell
c. Sclerenchyma cell

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 .
Leaf Lab

Introduction

The purpose of this lab is to understand the function of and observe the arrangement of tissues in
the leaf (see Tissues and Organs).

Methods

Use your microscope to view slides with cross sections of Monocot and Dicot leaves, or use the
links below.

Draw a cross section a typical Dicot and a typical Monocot Leaf and place in Scientific notebook
(click to see cross sections with included tissues).

Monocot Leaf

Dicot Leaf

For leaf label where applicable – upper epidermis, lower epidermis, spongy mesophyll, palisade
mesophyll, undifferentiated mesophyll, mid vein, vein.
Label each tissue and write the function of each.

Plant Structure and Form notes.

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Stem Lab

Introduction

The purpose of this lab is to understand the function of and observe the arrangement of tissues in
the stem (see Tissues and Organs).

Methods

Use your microscope to view slides with cross sections of Monocot and Dicot stems, or use the
links below.

Draw a cross section a typical Dicot stem and a typical Monocot Stem place in notebook (click
to see cross sections and tissues).

Dicot stem

Monocot stem

For stem label where applicable - epidermis, cortex, pith, vascular bundle, ground tissue.
Label each tissue and write the function of each

Plant Structure and Form notes.

Additional Resource. http://www.biology4friends.org/plant-microscope-exercise.html

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Root Lab

Introduction

The purpose of this lab is to understand the function of and observe the arrangement of tissues in
the root (see Tissues and organs).

Methods

Use your microscope to view slides with cross sections of Monocot and Dicot roots, or use the
links below.

Draw a cross section a typical Dicot root and a typical Monocot root place in notebook (click to
see cross sections and tissues).

Dicot root

Monocot root

For root label where applicable – epidermis, cortex, pith, vascular bundle, ground tissue,
endodermis, phloem, xylem. Label each tissue and write the function of each

Plant Structure and Form notes.

Additional Resource. http://www.biology4friends.org/plant-microscope-exercise.html

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Evolution of Land Plants Lab
Click on the link below to review the evolution of land plants. In the video please pay particular
attention to the four plant groups on lad. Also pay particular attention to the characteristics
common to each plant group.

Plant Evolution

Draw the cladogram showing the relationship between each plant group and their
major characteristics. The following link will be helpful.

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Bryophyte Lab
Bryophyte Mini Lecture
Bryophyte Life Cycle video

Draw the life cycle and label the major structures in the gametophyte and sporophyte
generations.

15
Fern Lab
Fern Mini Lecture
Fern Life Cycle and video
Fern Life Cycle

Draw the life cycle and label the major structures in the gametophyte and sporophyte
generations.

16
Gymnosperm Lab
Gymnosperm video
Gymnosperm notes

Draw the life cycle and label the major structures in the gametophyte and sporophyte
generations.

17
Angiosperm Lab
Angiosperm Life Cycle
Angiosperm notes
Reproduction

Draw the life cycle and label the major structures in the gametophyte and sporophyte
generations.

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Appendix
The following are resources that may be beneficial for you:

A. Writing a Lab Report -

a. Scientific Reporting for the Lab Research Notebook
b. Write in pen.
c. On the outside of the Research notebook put your name, section number, and
email address.
d. Each Lab will have a title page and a date for the experimental exercise.
e. The first page of the notebook is left blank.
f. The second page of the notebook will be the table of contents.
g. Each page following the Table of Contents will have a page number in the bottom
right corner.
h. The first page after the Table of Contents will be page number “1”.
i. Do not write on the back of the page.
j. Understand what you are to do before you begin writing.
k. Be sure to include the following sections for each Lab.

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The following was modified from this site: https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-
tools/scientific-reports/. Additional information can be found by visiting this site.
Section Scientific method step As well as…

Introduction State your hypothesis. Explain your hypothesis and

how it connects to previous
research. Give the purpose of
the experiment.

Methods In paragraph form write the Clarify why you performed

steps regarding how you your study in that particular
tested your hypothesis. way.

Results Provide the raw data Present data in a table or graph

collected. or figure. It must be labelled
and easy-to-read.

Conclusion Tell whether the data you Explain and interpret the data.
and/or obtained support the Explore the implications of
hypothesis your findings and potential
Discussion
limitations.

Overall Write clearly and in order. All pages are neat (colored
Neatness and Include all lab exercises with pencils are extra). Very few
Table of contents and page mistakes included.
order numbers. Writing on front
page only. Follow
instructions.

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B. How to use the Compound Microscope - https://youtu.be/lo2aC_m2vyo
a. How to focus the microscope.
b. View the letter “e”. Draw it.
c. View onion epidermal cells. Draw one.

C. Plants and Their Structure -

https://www2.estrellamountain.edu/faculty/farabee/biobk/BioBookPLANTANAT.html#T
able%20of%20Contents

D. Additional Resources for Botany Lab and Lecture

Plant Biology Textbook - From Growing to Biology: Plants 1e

https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Botany/Introduction_to_Botany_(Shipunov)

https://labs.plb.ucdavis.edu/courses/bis/1c/text/PLANTBIOLOGY2.htm

https://www.learnpick.in/prime/documents/ppts/botany

https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Botany/A_Photographic_Atlas_for Botany_(Morrow)

https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Botany/Botany_Lab_Manual_(Morrow)

https://archive.org/details/elements_of_botany_1805_librivox

https://archive.org/details/elements_botany_1103_librivox

https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/49211/pg49211-images.html

https://youtu.be/HQ6ScNaBX6M (Meiosis video)

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