The Effect of Stimulating Solvents in Corn Seed Plant Growth

Joniqua Christopher, Danielle Coco, Brianna Nicolas and Pume Chikowi

The Abstract

1

An experiment was performed to investigate how the addition of different stimulating

solvents would accelerate growth in corn seed plants. We planted, germinated, and grew corn

seed plants. We introduced caffeine, B Vitamins, and Vitamin C into the soil of the plants by

using different solvents. One solvent was with the Red Bull Energy Drink, another was tap water

mixed with the Emergen-C was the solute, and the last was plain tap water. We evaluated the

effects of the control plant that was not exposed to caffeine, B Vitamins, or Vitamin C stimulants

in comparison to the ones with stimulants which were the experimental plants. Our results

showed that stimulants did not accelerate the corn seed plants growth, but stunted them. All three

plants were grown under the same conditions like the temperature and number of seeds, but the

water solvent had the most successful results. We initially hypothesized that the stimulating

solvents would increase the growth of the corn seed plants, but we were proven wrong.

The Introduction

The hypothesis of this experiment is to determine if the addition of different stimulating

solvents would have a positive growth effect in corn seed plants. Stimulants in general, create a

fast rush of energy that speeds up the central nervous system and thinking in humans. For plants,

we believe that the stimulating solvents will provide additional energy for the plants to grow

even faster than normal. The stimulants used in this experiment are the major ingredients found

in the original Red Bull Energy Drink and Super Orange Emergen-C, which is a powdered drink

mix vitamin supplement. The Red Bull major stimulant is caffeine, but there is also the presence

of B Vitamins (Figure 3). One 8.4 ounce can of Red Bull contains 80 milligrams of caffeine,

which is about the same amount that is found in a cup of coffee (Red Bull Ingredients). The other

stimulants in Red Bull have specifically 250% Vitamin B6 and 80% Vitamin B12. This equates

to approximately 5.04 milligrams of Vitamin B6 and 5.06 micrograms of Vitamin B12

(SkipthePie) . The Emergen-C major stimulant is Vitamin C which has 1,000 milligrams in one

packet (Figure 4). The additional stimulants, Vitamin B6 and B12 have a much smaller amounts

with 10 milligrams of Vitamin B6 and 25 micrograms of Vitamin B12. When we speak of

solvents, we men liquids where solutes, or substances are dissolved. In Red Bull the stimulant

solvent contains mostly caffeine and in the Emergen-C it is mostly Vitamin C.

We will start off with caffeine to see the effect of these stimulants on plant growth.

Caffeine has either a beneficial, or stunted response in plants. It is beneficial when the plant

grows faster than it normally would when stimulants are added to the soil. When there is a

stunted response, the plant grows slowly or not at all. Caffeine is a central nervous system

stimulating drug which speeds up the central nervous system. Caffeine is the world’s most

popular drug that reduces drowsiness, enhances mood, and promotes vigilance (Penner 362).

Caffeine also “boosts the capacity for physical work” which is why we hypothesize that it will

also boost the growth of the plant (Penner 362). At high doses, “caffeine causes tremors and

anxieties”, luckily the dosage in Red Bull is only a moderate amount so we assumed that it will

not stunt the plant growth (Penner 362).

Vitamins are essential micronutrients that are required for maintaining normal bodily

functions (Red Bull Ingredients). B group Vitamins are important for getting energy from

2

nutrients by breaking down carbohydrates and protein. There is not any clear evidence that states

that B vitamins stimulate plant growth but Advanced Nutrients' researchers believe that B

vitamin supplements produces stronger plants with a higher yield than those without the

treatment (Van Hooser). As for Vitamin C, in humans it is essential in maintaining a healthy

immune system, and it is critical to the formation of collagen, a structural protein that supports

the skin and internal organs (Emergen-C). Scientists from the University of Exeter and Shimane

University in Japan have proved for the first time that Vitamin C is essential for plant growth. It

is already known that Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps plants deal with stress from drought

due to ozone and UV radiation. Now these scientists discovered that plants can live without this

stress by adding Vitamin C (University of Exeter). Every organism lives more efficient lives

without stress, so this also added to our hypothesis as to why we believe the stimulant would

enhance the corn seed plant’s growth.

When a seed starts to grow, we say it germinates (Figure 1). Cotyledons are the first

leaves produced by plants that are a part of the embryo, or undeveloped plant (Figure 2). The

cotyledons store food and feed off of the nutrients in the seed until the true leaves develop and

begin photosynthesizing (Iannotti). This is the process when green plants use sunlight to make

food from carbon dioxide and water (Figure 5). When the seed starts to germinate, the first thing

to come out is the main root. The skin will split and the tiny shoot will straighten bringing

cotyledons with it. The main root will increase in size and the side roots and leaves will become

visible. The seed needs to grow in a warm and damp environment and a dry seed will stay

dormant unless it absorbs some water. Corn plants are photoautotrophs which are autotrophs that

use light as a source of energy to make organic molecules. Photoautotrophs make a large

proportion of the Earth's organic molecules using photosynthesis. Photoautotrophs and

heterotrophs metabolize organic molecules in cellular respiration to supply their energy. Cellular

respiration makes carbon dioxide and water, and is used to make chemical energy. The carbon

dioxide is released into the atmosphere and can be reused by photoautotrophs to make more

organic molecules like glucose (Brooker 155). In this way, an energy cycle between

photosynthesis and cellular respiration sustains life on our planet. In this experiment, we believe

added energy from the stimulants will increase the growth of the corn seed plants.

Materials and Methods

We were given three small plant pots filled with soil. First we sunk three corn seeds into

the soil at the bottom of each pot. Next, we labeled each pot stating all of the conditions. On one

pot we wrote dependent, which is short for dependent variable, and indicated that tap water

would be the only solvent put in there. On the second pot we labeled it as independent 1, short

for independent variable, and indicated that Red Bull would go in it. The last pot was also

labeled as independent 2 and indicated the Emergen-C would go inside. On all of the pots we

wrote that they would be in a room that has light room temperature which is 74 degrees

fahrenheit like the open lab room. We also wrote the date October 15, 2015, the type of seed we

were using, and our group’s combined initials to differentiate our plants from other groups. Next,

we took a small graduated cylinder and poured 100 milliliters of tap water inside. Then we

3

poured this into the pot labeled dependent. Immediately after, we measured out 100 milliliters of

Red Bull and poured that into the independent 1 pot. Lastly, we filled a small plastic cup with the

same tap water, emptied one packet of Emergen-C into it, and mixed it until it was dissolved.

Once we measured out 100 milliliters from that we poured it into independent pot 2. The next

day which was a Friday, we noticed cotyledons growing continued to water the plants. This time

we measured 50 milliliters for each pot instead of 100 milliliters. This was because the first pot

we put tap water into, which was the dependent pot, overflowed with water. We wanted to avoid

overflowing another pot so we put half the amount of solvent in the independent 1 and 2 pots.

We returned to water the plants but continued to use 100 milliliters despite the pots overflowing

on Tuesday the 20th, Thursday the 22nd, Friday the 23rd, and the same days of the following

week. By the third week we noticed a significant amount of dying leaves and decided to end the

experiment.

Results

The table below shows an overview of our corn seed plant experiment. It shows that our

soil was given, we used three corn seeds in each pot, the types and amounts of solvents, and the

temperature.

Corn Seed Plant Experiment Overview

Soil Seeds Solvent Temperature

Dependent

Variable

Given 3 Corn Tap Water 100ml

(50 ml once)

Light Room

Temperature

Independent

Variable 1

Given 3 Corn Tap Water with Red Bull

100ml (50 ml once)

Light Room

Temperature

Independent

Variable 2

Given 3 Corn Tap Water with Emergen-C

100ml (50 ml once)

Light Room

Temperature

During our experiment I took photographs of the plants in the beginning, but do not be alarmed

these were prop photos we actually measured the amounts first before pouring them in. I also

took photographs of the growth heights in the corn seed plants.

4

I took photos of the initial cotyledon growth the second day we went to water them. The

dependent plant which had only tap water was 3 centimeters tall. Independent 1 plant which

contained Red Bull as the solvent showed no growth. Lastly independent 2 plant which was the

Emergen-C solvent grew 1 ½ centimeters tall.

5

Seven days later we watered each plant with 100 milliliters of solvent and recorded their growth.

Plant Type Growth Height 7 Days After

Dependent Water Plant 23 cm

Independent 1 Red Bull Plant 0 cm

Independent 2 Emergen-C Plant 18 cm

By the third and last week we observed that our plant leaves were browning and this indicates

poor watering habits. The soil in the plants were very dry even though we were over watering

them three days a week. The final plant heights were 36 centimeters for the dependent plant and

0 centimeters for independent 1 plant which contained Red Bull. Lastly independent 2 plant

which was with the Emergen-C solvent grew 18 centimeters tall.

6

Plant Type Growth Height 3rd & Last Week

Dependent Water Plant 36 cm

Independent 1 Red Bull Plant 0 cm

Independent 2 Emergen-C Plant 18 cm

7

This line graph also shows the gradual plant height growth. The blue line represents the

dependent plant that only received water. The red line shows the growth of the independent 1

Red Bull plant and the orange plant shows the growth of the independent 2 Emergen-C plant.

Discussion

The experiment suffered many flaws since our organization was not preferable. It would

have been ideal if we consistently visited the open lab to water the plants every weekday or at

least every other day. Another mistake we made was not sticking to one measuring limit.

Initially, when we came up with watering the corn seed plants with 100 milliliters it seemed like

a good idea because it was only 3 ounces. Once we first poured it into the dependent pot we

noticed overflowing. Thus resulting in us lowering in the amount for the other pots. The major

problem is that we completely forgot to keep pouring 50 millileters since we were rushing in

between Biology lab and lecture classes to correctly water the plants. We ultimately thought

overflowing might be beneficial since we were not always able to go and water them. Our

packed schedules also played into the fact of skewing our data. Our hypothesis was not correct

because the different solute stimulants did not in fact accelerate the growth as we expected, but

stunted it.

This is shown in the plants that were watered with Red Bull and Emergen-C. The

abundance of caffeine in the Red Bull showed a stunted growth reaction in this plant. The

independent plant 1 did not germinate at all (Figure 6). Although 80 milligrams of caffeine is not

considered dangerous or a high dosage in humans, we assume that it is for the corn seed plant.

8

The caffeine probably served as a stressor for the plant or caused anxiety like Penner previously

mentioned, and that could have inhibited the growth. The B Vitamins also seemed not to do

anything to the plant, although Van Hooser previously mentioned that the Advanced Nutrients'

researchers believe that B vitamin supplements produces stronger plants with a higher yield than

those without the treatment. This is shown to be incorrect since neither the Red Bull plant nor the

Emergen-C plant grew more than the plant with tap water. Even when digging through the soils

of the plants at the end of the experiment I noticed that they were extremely dry but the

dependent plant was slightly less dry. As for the Emergen-C plant, it showed a good amount of

growth that is probably due to the abundance of Vitamin C. The Vitamin C is an antioxidant that

helps plants deal with stress, we believe that independent plant 2 was relieved of possible stress

because of the Vitamin C. The previously discussed scientists’ discovery proved that plants can

live without this stress by adding Vitamin C and it is shown in our plant. Although the

independent plant 2 also contained B Vitamins, it did not show as much of a negative effect on

the plant as independent plant 1’s stimulant combination of caffeine and B Vitamins. Lastly

when you compare the overall growth of both independent plants to the dependent plant it is

evident that the plant with only tap water showed the most beneficial growth. The absence of

stimulants kept the corn seed plant growing as normal as ever. Although all three plants had the

same conditions like the temperature and number of seeds, the water solvent had the most

successful results. It grew 36 centimeters more than the Red Bull plant and 18 centimeters more

than the Emergen-C plant. The significance of these results show that stimulants do not

accelerate the growth in corn seed plants and it is better to just use water alone.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our hypothesis that the addition of different stimulant solvents would accelerate

growth in corn seed plants was incorrect. With observation of the plant heights, we found the

dependent plant that did not have stimulants showed the most beneficial results. The extreme

dryness of the soils shows that we did not keep a proper watering schedule for the plants. The

caffeine, B Vitamin and Vitamin C stimulants stunted or slowed down the growth in the corn

seed plants.

References

Brooker, Robert J. "Chapter 8 Photosynthesis." Biology. 3rd ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill,

9

2014. N. pag. Print.

Emergen-C." Glossary. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.

Iannotti, Marie. "What Are Cotyledons, Monocots and Dicots?" About.com Home. N.p.,

n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.

"Nutritional Info: Energy Drink, RED BULL, with Added Caffeine, Niacin, Pantothenic

Acid, Vitamins B6 and B12." SkipThePie.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.

Penner, Louis, Alison Clarke-Stewart, and Edward Roy. "Chapter 9 Consciousness."

Psychology. By Douglas Bernstein. 9th ed. Belmont: Wadsworth Cengage Learning,

2012. 360-62. Print.

"Red Bull Ingredients." Ingredients. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.

University of Exeter. "Vitamin C is Essential For Plant Growth." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 27

September 2007. Web. 18 Nov. 2015.

Van Hooser, Tamara. "What Kinds of Vitamins Do Plants Need?" Home Guides. N.p., n.d. Web.

18 Nov. 2015.

Acknowledgements- Danielle Coco and Brianna Nicolas

Appendices

Corn Seed Germination Figure 1 Emergence of Cotyledon and True Leaf Figure 2

10

Red Bull Nutritional Facts Figure 3

Emergen-C Nutritional Facts Figure 4

11

Simple image of Plant Photosynthesis Figure 5

Photo of the Un-germinated Seed in Independent Plant 1 Figure 6