Project description
Tomatoes and the ripening process. Phytohormones are invisible, yet they influence both the garden and the cauldron.
Indoor only, or indoor and garden long-term activity.
Age and number of children are not limited, suitable especially for primary school pupils (age 6-13).
Duration approximately 2 - 8 weeks; twice 1 hour plus the follow-up activities
Tomatoes are needed for this activity. Therefore it must be carried out at the time when tomatoes are abundant in gardens (e.g. in the Czech Republic August - September).
Primary goals of the project are to introduce the pupils to the existence of phytohormones and to the fact the garden (and the entire world) is influenced by invisible powers.
Secondary goals: table protocol, graphical data processing, the basics of statistical evaluation, introduction to fruits (types, biological classification and gardening).
Materials needed: Approximately 10 unripe and 3 ripe tomatoes. Two baskets or bowls. A notepad and pencil, optionally water colours and brushes.
Introduction
Life is very complex. In nature and in the garden, powers are sometimes at work that cannot be percieved with the naked eye. In the past, people believed these powers to be magic. Plant hormones (phytohormones) are bio-catalysts involved in inter-cellular substance transfer. They are present in small quantities as signal carriers. Those signals that encourage growth are called stimulants = growth substances = promotors (e.g. auxins, giberelins, cytokins). Those that inhibit growth are called preventive substances = inhiobitors (e.g. abscistic acid, kumarins, jasmonic acid, blastokolins).