Question

Suresh prepares slides with pollen grains in different sugar concentrations (0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, 10%) to study the germination of pollen.

1. What are the different hypotheses which can be tested using this set-up?
2. What parameters should be kept the same in this set-up?

Answer 1

1. Hypotheses: sugar concentration affects pollen germination; pollen requires a suitable sugar concentration for germination; too little or too much sugar may reduce or prevent germination. 
2. Parameters kept the same: type and age of pollen, temperature, time of observation, volume of sugar solution, pH, light conditions, method of slide preparation, and number of pollen grains used.