1. Conclusion
This experiment was designed to test the effects of a 1 ppm
solution of bibberellic acid on the speed of both closing phases
of the Venus flytrap’s leaves. It was hypothesized that because
of the second closing phase is thought to be a growth response,
the application of gibberellic acid would increase the speed of
the reaction; however, the first phase of closing, which is
basically a change in turgor pressure, would not be affected. It
was found that the mean time for each phase was less in the
group of plants treated with gibberellic acid. These data
appeared not to support the hypothesis concerning Phase 1
but to support the hypothesis concerning Phase 11; that is, the
data suggested that the speed of both reactions was increased
by the application of gibberellic acid.
However, results of t tests completed on the data showed that
there was significant
difference between the control and experimental groups only
with the second phase of closure: the reach hypothesis was
supported by the data. The first phase of closure was
unaffected by gibberellic acid, whereas the speed phase of
closure was increased. The data may have been affected
somewhat by uncontrolled environmental variables such as
temperature and humidity: this experiment could have been
improved by keeping the Venus flytraps in a climatorium,
where more outside variables could be controlled. Using more
plants would also increase the accuracy of the data. For
variations in closing speed could be correlated and accounted
for: the effect of gibberellic acid on the Venus flytrap could be
established more firmly.