Bot. A student investigated the effect of root space on plant growth. The student grew two groups of plants of the same variety. Both groups received the same amount of water and sunlight and grew in the same type of soil. The plants in Group A were grown in cube-shaped containers that were 3 centimeters deep. The plants in Group B were grown in cube-shaped containers that were 10 centimeters deep. The table shows the student's observations. Week: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Plant Group A (Average Height, cm): 2 3 5 7 8 10 Plant Group B (Average Height, cm): 3 6 8 10 14 18. What was the effect of root space on plant growth based on the student's investigation? Use the data from the table to support your answer. Explain how you would know whether this effect was likely due to environmental or genetic factors. Please keep your answer on topic.
Based on the data provided, it is clear that the plants in Group B, which had more root space (10 cm deep containers), exhibited significantly greater growth compared to the plants in Group A, which had less root space (3 cm deep containers).
In Group A, the plants only reached a maximum height of 10 cm by the end of the 6-week period, while in Group B, the plants grew much taller, reaching a maximum height of 18 cm. This difference in growth between the two groups clearly indicates that root space has a significant impact on plant growth.
In order to determine whether this effect was likely due to environmental or genetic factors, the student could conduct further experiments. For example, the student could repeat the experiment in different environmental conditions, such as varying levels of sunlight or water. If the same pattern of greater growth in plants with more root space persists across different environmental conditions, it suggests that root space itself is the primary factor influencing plant growth. On the other hand, if the effect of root space on plant growth varies depending on environmental conditions, it may indicate that other factors play a role in determining plant growth.