BIOL114: The Effect of Zinc Oxide on Arabidopsis thaliana growth and development

The widespread use of zinc oxide (ZnO) in various industries such as cosmetics, and electronics has raised concerns about their potential ecological effects, especially on plant life. As ZnO may enter soil and water systems, understanding its impact on plant growth is critical for assessing potential risks to ecosystems and plant growth. Our experiment investigated the effects of ZnO on the growth of Arabidopsis thaliana, to explore its potential impact on plant development and growth. The experiment was conducted by exposing wild-type and mutant (25026) Arabidopsis seeds to 10g of ZnO per 100g of soil, in a controlled growth environment. Dependent growth variables such as seedling height, width of plant, and leaf count were measured during our experiment. Results revealed that ZnO exposure at high concentrations negatively affected seedling growth, with a significant reduction in height, width, and number of leaves compared to the control plants. The significance of these findings lies in understanding how ZnO interacts with plant systems and influences their growth, which has important implications for agricultural practices and environmental risk assessments related to the use of ZnO in various industries.