Plants, Photons, and Photosynthesis: Does Wavelength of Light Affect Plant Growth?

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to determine a relationship between light wavelength and plant growth. Several tests were performed to determine this: chromatography, spectroscopy and rate of oxygen consumption were all tested. These tests allowed us to determine the pigments present in the plant, Plcotranthus scutellarioides, the wavelengths the pigments absorb and what effect these wavelengths have on plant growth. This data can be used to increase plant growth, specifically in the bio-degradable plastics industry. Bigger plants create more material that can be made into more plastics, and decrease the negative environmental effects non-biodegradable plastics have.