The objective of this project is to expose the students to advanced technology used in quantitative investigation of plant hormone and secondary compounds in plants, problems in water relations in plants, and in the computer assisted monitoring of plant growth. Students learn the principles of chromatography using a gas chromatograph and conduct quantitative determinations of hormone concentrations in plant tissues under varying conditions. A water relations package gives students the opportunity to probe a field of science which is often neglected in most plant science classes due to a lack of equipment and expertise. Computer and video digitization technology allow students to examine the factors that influence both the rate and directional component of plant growth. The equipment is used in courses taken by students majoring in the sciences and non-science majors, allow students to actively participate in self-designed independent student research projects.
