Results – Sugar solution

As this graph shows, growth of the bean shoot was steady until Day 6, where a growth spurt occured, the bean increasing in length from 35mm to 68mm. This rapid growth occured until Day 8 where at 110mm, the bean slowed its growth.

By Day 14, having reached 130mm, the shoot was beginning to turn brown, its leaves undernorished and the steam to become limp. It is possible that the crystalised sugar was preventing the nutrients in the soil from being absorbed by the roots.

A reason for the beans growing tall and healthy initially with the sugar solution might be because the plant gained an increase of glucose which is needed for photosynthesis. However by the 8th day, there was perhaps an excess of sugar which prevented the plant from gaining sufficient water.