Investigate the effect of temperature change on the permeability of beetroot cell membranes

Aim: Investigate the effect of temperature change on the permeability of beetroot cell membranes

Prediction:

Assumption- At room temperature membrane is impermeable to anthocyanin.


As Temperature increases, the permeability of the tonoplast and cell membrane of beetroot cells increases with leakage of anthocyanin from the vacuole.

Apparatus:

Beetroot Cork borer
Stop-clock Scalpel
Ruler Test tubes
Colorimeter Colorimeter tubes
Bunsen Burner Gauze Mat
Mounted needle

Method:

1) Cut cylinders of beetroot using cork borers.
2) Cut cylinders into discs 3mm wide. 7 discs for each temperature you investigate (5 temps = 35 discs)
3) Wash all discs until no more pigment leaks from them.
Results Table:

Colorimeter Readings (Absorbance)

Temperature/oc 1st Reading/Arbitrary units 2nd Reading/Arbitrary units 3rd Reading/Arbitrary units Average/Arbitrary units
23oc 0.31 0.18 0.13 0.21
40oc 0....