plant cell experiment

Onion Peel Cell Experiment

The onion peel cell experiment is very popular for observing a plant cell structure. Onion is a eukaryotic plant that contains multicellular cells. We know that the cell is a structural and functional unit of life that builds up living structures.

The bulb of an onion is formed from modified leaves . Like plant cells, onion cells have a rigid cell wall and a cell membrane enclosing the cytoplasm and nucleus.

Onion epidermal cells exist as a single layer that serves as a protective skin. It separates the thick, juicy scale leaves of the onion. Thus, the bulb of onion is formed from modified leaves.

The epidermal cell of an onion bulb is simple and transparent. Its microscopic observation introduces the general view of plant anatomy to the students.

Firm and medium-sized onions are generally used to visualize the onion’s epidermal cells. This post explains the theory, requirements, and procedure of the onion peel experiment. Also the observation, result and precautions of the experiment are also discussed.

Content: Onion Peel Cell Experiment

Requirements, observation, precautions.

The main objective of performing the onion peel cell experiment is to observe the arrangement and structural components of the onion epidermis. The following facts about the onion peel cell experiment play a significant role in educating students:

• The epidermis of the onion bulb is a single layer of tissue that is easy to separate. For this reason, onion peel is best for educational and experimental purposes to study the structure of plant cells.
• Due to the large size of onion cells, the cells can be examined under low magnification.
• It is also a simple experiment that the students can efficiently perform, plus they can practice how to use a microscope.

We need the following glassware and reagents to prepare a temporary slide of an onion peel.

Materials required to separate onion skin

• Medium-sized onion

Materials needed to stain and mount the onion peel

• Petri Plate
• Distilled Water
• Clean glass slide
• Blotting paper
• Compound microscope

An onion is a multicellular plant. The presence of a rigid cell wall and a large vacuole is a characteristic feature of a plant cell. Thus, onion being a plant, comprises features common to plant cells. Like plant cells, onion cells consist of a cell wall and cell membrane surrounding the cytoplasm, nucleus and a large vacuole.

• The cell wall is a rigid, protective coat covering the cell membrane, including all the internal components. The rigid cell wall maintains the shape of onion cells and contributes to the compact arrangement of the epidermal cells in onion.
• The cell membrane is interior to the cell wall surrounding the cytoplasm, including all the internal structures.
• The cytoplasm is the cell’s inner space that appears jelly-like. It moves the cytosolic material around the cell through cytoplasmic streaming.
• The nucleus is present near the periphery of the cytoplasm. It is the control centre of the cell and the largest organelle in the cell.
• The vacuole is large and prominently seen at the centre of the cell. It stores solid and liquid contents. The basic shape or size of a vacuole differs depending on the needs of the cell.

Video: Onion Peel Cell Experiment

Procedure of Onion Peel Cell Experiment

The steps to perform the onion peel cell experiment are as follows:

Steps to separate an onion peel

A. Take an onion, separate its outermost peel and chop it into two equal halves.

B. Then, take one fleshy scale leaf of a chopped onion bulb and split it into two.

C. Then carefully pull a thin, transparent epidermal peel from the convex surface of the scale leaf using forceps.

D. Then, wash the separated peel in the Petri plate containing water. You can cut the onion peel into small rectangular pieces using a blade.

Steps to stain and mount an onion peel

E. After that, transfer the onion peels into the Petri plate containing diluted safranin stain. Leave the peels undisturbed for about 3 minutes.

F. Finally, rinse the extra stain of the peel by again dipping it in the Petri plate containing water.

G. With the help of a brush or forcep, transfer the peel to the centre of a clean glass slide.

H. Then, to mount the onion peel, add a drop of glycerine over the centre of the slide. Glycerine prevents the peel from drying up.

I. After that, carefully mount a cover slip over the centre of the prepared slide by slowly lowering it with a needle. During this stage, you need to avoid the entry of any air bubbles.

J. Using a piece of blotting paper, remove extra glycerine from the margins of a cover slip.

K. Observe the temporary slide under the compound microscope.

• First, turn on the microscope’s light and ensure the low objective lens is in line with the optical tube. Then, place the prepared slide on the stage of a microscope.
• Looking from the side (not through an eyepiece), lower the tube using the coarse focus knob until the end of the objective lens is just above the cover glass. During this stage, do not crack the cover glass, or the objective lens may get damaged.
• Now look through the eyepiece and adjust the smaller, fine focusing knob to move the optical tube upwards until an image comes into focus.
• Then, swap the objective lens to a high objective lens so that you can notice the cells at greater magnification.
• Prepare an observation table for the cells as seen under a microscope and note the features listed in the observation table.
• Shape of cells: Rectangle
• Arrangement of cells: Compact
• Inter-cellular spaces : Absent
• Nucleus : Present (at the cell’s periphery)
• Stained portions : Cell wall and nucleus are darkly stained with less-stained cytoplasm
• Unstained portions : Cell membrane and Vacuole

• Do not overstain the onion skin.
• Avoid the folding of the peel.
• The glass slide and cover slip should be dry and clean.
• Put a coverslip carefully to avoid any air bubbles.
• Using blotting paper, remove the extra glycerine.

Therefore, the onion peel cell experiment is an engrossing activity that can help a student to observe and study the plant cell structure . Students can prepare the temporary slide and observe the differences between the slide with stained onion skin and the slide without any stain. The microscopic observation of onion peel cells will allow students to closely examine each component of onion cells.

Related Topics:

• Difference Between Hypogynous and Epigynous Flower
• Holy Basil for Immunity
• Life Cycle of Achyla
• Tropic Movements in Plants

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17 Creative Plant Cell Project Ideas To Try This Year

These ideas won’t leaf you disappointed!

Making science come alive in the classroom is important because it helps keep students engaged. By fifth grade, most students begin to learn some biology basics, including what a plant cell is and how it’s structured. While many plant cell project ideas and lessons are geared toward upper elementary school students, the simpler concepts can be taught to younger students using supplies like play dough.

Whether you have your students create 3D plant cell projects in school or as part of a take-home assignment, they can really help kids better understand cells and their organelles. A plant cell project can be complicated (stitching a cell), but many are fairly easy and require little more than the supplies you likely already have on hand.

3D Plant Cell Projects

1. jelly plant cell model.

First, you’ll need to make Jell-O in a lightly greased container. Then, you’ll add candies to represent each organelle. Finally, use toothpicks and stickers to label everything. Bonus: Once you’re finished, you get to eat the leftover candy!

Learn more: Jell-O Plant Cell Model at Science Sparks

2. Clay Model

Grab some Air-Dry Modeling Clay and then get building! Print out the various names of the parts of the cell, including the cell wall and membrane, and then create little flags out of them with toothpicks.

3. Altoids Model

These Altoids tins make for the perfect and oh-so adorably pocket-sized home for a mini 3D plant cell model. You can use card stock to make the various parts of the model and then use two layers of mounting tape or craft foam to make it pop.

Learn more: 3D Mint Tin Cell Model at Teacher Thrive

4. Cardboard Plant Cell Model

This one is somewhat time-consuming, but it requires little more than some recycled cardboard and construction paper or card stock. If a younger child is doing this project, you’ll want an adult to handle the X-Acto knife.

5. Plant Cell Model From Seeds

This 3D plant cell project will take a while, but the results will be well worth it. We especially love the idea of using seeds to create the various parts of the plant cell!

6. LEGO Plant Cell

Kids love LEGO so why not incorporate them into your science unit on plant and animal cells? ADVERTISEMENT

7. Plant Cell Cake

This idea is so creative and all you need is a cake pan, frosting, and some candy. Add some toothpicks with labels and your delicious cake just became educational!

8. Stitched Model

You’ll definitely want to have sewing experience before tackling this plant cell project. Since it is time-consuming and requires skill, we think it would be perfect for a handy teacher to create to use as a teaching tool.

Learn more: Stitched Plant Cell at Becky Button

9. Peanut Butter Cell

Another edible option! This one is so simple that it will be easy for young kids to recreate. Since some kids have peanut allergies, you can replace the peanut butter with a more allergy-friendly spread. And you’ll have a tasty treat once the learning is done!

Learn more: Edible Cell Model for Elementary School at Adventures in Mommydom

10. Play-Doh Model

Kids love playing with Play-Doh, so they will really enjoy creating an animal or plant cell in different colors. We especially love that supplies are minimal. Creating each individual part of the plant cell will help kids remember their names and purposes.

Learn more: Introducing Animal and Plant Cells to Kids at Spongy Kids

11. Whole-Class Plant Model

This idea takes a 3D plant cell project to the next level! Students are divided into groups by organelles and then they need to create a blueprint for and build their plant cell component to scale. The giant plant cell is created from clear painter’s drop cloths and then inflated using fans. This activity will engage all your students while also being fun and educational.

Learn more: Biology Students and the Giant Plant Cell at Teachers Network

Other Plant Cell Projects

12. plant cell drawing tutorial.

Kids love to follow drawing tutorials, and this one will be no exception. The muscle memory involved in actually drawing each part should help them with remembering the various components of the plant cell.

13. Rock ‘n Learn Video

This cute video uses relatable characters to teach about the different parts of a plant cell while also highlighting the differences between plant and animal cells.

14. Two-Minute Lesson

This is another video lesson, but this one is geared toward slightly older kids. It’s a great video for kids to bookmark so they can refresh their memories later.

15. Shrinky Dinks Model

Shrinky Dinks have been around for decades, so many teachers and parents probably remember crafting with them at some point in their childhood. They are essentially thin sheets of plastic that you cut and color and then bake in an oven. Once baked, you have a tiny version of what you created.

Learn more: Shrinky Dinks Cell Models at Teacher Thrive

16. Cut-and-Paste Worksheet

These worksheets are a great way to introduce the concept of a plant cell and the various organelles. Grab scissors and glue sticks and get to work learning about plant cells and their organelles!

Learn more: Free Build-Your-Own Animal and Plant Cell Worksheet at You’ve Got This Math

17. A Complete Lesson Plan

This is a complete lesson plan that has students travel to different stations while learning all about animal and plant cells. Students will learn different things when making their way through the four E’s in this plan—engagement, exploration, explanation, and elaboration.

Learn more: Plant and Animal Cell Lesson at Kesler Science

Continue the STEM learning with these  54 Fifth Grade Science Projects .

Plus,  sign up for our newsletters  to get all the latest teaching tips and ideas straight to your inbox..

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Plant cell model

September 20, 2020 By Emma Vanstone 2 Comments

Animal and plant cells have three main differences. They both have a nucleus, cytoplasm and cell membrane, but only plant cells have a cell wall, vacuole and chloroplasts. We used jelly to create an easy plant cell model showing the main features of a plant cell.

See our animal cell model post for more about the organelles found in both types of cells.

Features of a plant cell

Cell wall – a rigid coating made of cellulose, this gives support to the cell.

Vacuole – this is a large space filled with cell sap. Cell sap is a solution of sugar and salts.

Chloroplasts – these contain chlorophyll which is needed for photosynthesis.

Plant Nutrition

Did you know plants make their own food? They use a process called photosynthesis which is a chemical process that takes place in every green plant. Photosynthesis uses carbon dioxide and water along with energy from sunlight to make glucose ( energy for the plant ) and oxygen!

Photosynthesis Equation

Carbon dioxide + water → glucose + oxygen.

Plants get carbon dioxide from the air through their leaves, and water from the ground via their roots.

Light energy comes from the Sun and is absorbed by chlorophyll ( found in chloroplasts ). It is chlorophyll that gives leaves their green colour.

The glucose created in photosynthesis is converted into other substances including starch for storage of energy.  This energy can be released by respiration .

What affects photosynthesis?

Four factors affect photosynthesis. The faster photosynthesis occurs the more the plant grows.

Light – the more light there is, the faster photosynthesis occurs.

Water – not enough water slows photosynthesis down.

Temperature – photosynthesis works best at around 30 degrees Celsius.

Levels of carbon dioxide – photosynthesis is faster if there is more carbon dioxide in the air.

Easy plant cell model

We made these plant cell models using jelly ( jello ) and different candy sweets. They are very easy to make and look great.

What you need to make a jelly plant cell model

Jelly/Jello

Different sweets – you’ll need something long and thin for the cell membrane.

Instructions

Make your jello as per the instructions in a lightly greased container.

Once set gently tip it into the container you want to keep the cell in ( it’ll be hard to move after this point )

Add sweets to look like each organelle.

Use toothpicks and stickers as signs to label the cell model.

If you look closely you might spot an error with our labelling..

We found that some sweets, especially hard boiled or sugar coated ones leaked colour into the jelly after a period of time. Keeping them in the fridge seemed to help slow this process down.

Plant and Animal Cell Revision Cards

Download my FREE cell revision cards by clicking the image below! Pin them up somewhere or cut into cards to carry around.

Pizza Cell Model

If you don’t fancy a jelly model how about a pizza plant cell model ?

Modroc Plant Cell Model

This model is made from modroc ( plaster bandage ). We built it over a rectangle container and left it to dry to get the shape.

We used scrunched up bits of modroc to form the organelles and then painted it!

Or how about a slightly easier candy version?

More Plant Science for Kids

Use two paper plates and a split pin to create a plant life cycle spinner

Find out how water is transported in plants with these easy experiments to demonstrate plant water transportation .

We’ve also got lots of plant science activity ideas which fit the English science curriculum, including dissecting flowers!

Last Updated on September 14, 2021 by Emma Vanstone

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

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20 Hands-On Plant & Animal Cell Activities 

March 1, 2023 //  by  Laura Spry

Teaching the basics of cells can be a lot of fun. There are heaps of hands-on activities and games out there to really engage students. Making models gives kids a sense of pride over the finished product, and more advanced students can add as much detail as they wish. Check out this collection of engaging activities that shine a light on plant and animal cells!  

1. Build-a-Cell

In this worksheet, students color in the different cell parts and stick them into the correct cell. Once all the cells are complete, comparisons can be made between them. Building their own cell helps students better retain learning. 

Learn More: You’ve Got This Math

2. Doodle Diagrams

Annotating text as you read is a proven way to encourage students to think critically about any topic- especially in science. Make sure to only annotate when it’s meaningful to the text. Using different colored pencils and writing styles adds interest to notes as well.

Learn More: Science and Math With Mrs. Lau

3. Paper Plate Cell

Using a large paper plate in this activity enlarges the cell parts for students-  allowing them to see the different parts in more detail. Using a diagram for reference, students can use markers to illustrate and label the different parts of the cell.

Learn More: Pinterest

4. Plant and Animal Cell Posters

Have students work in teams with each student in the team responsible for researching a different part of the cell. Then, they can collaborate to create a poster on a large piece of white paper, label the cell, and add extra details.

5. Membrane Models

To build this model of a cell membrane you will need, 3 pipe cleaners, a straw, a rubber band, 50 cotton swabs, scissors, a marble, and one BB. Each part of the model represents real parts of a cell membrane.

Learn More: Education

6. Felt Cell

This fun animal cells resource requires you to have around eight or nine different colored pieces of felt, and at least two larger pieces for the circle areas. Each different color represents different parts of the cell and is a great, hands-on activity for kids. 

Learn More: Applie Juice

7. MYO Slime Cell

This experiment uses the contact lens solution method for the slime. Following any online method is fine, just make sure it’s a green color for a plant cell as these contain chlorophyll. Using an online diagram, task students to find objects to add to the solution that represents the different parts of the cell eg. cotton balls for the mitochondria. 

Learn More: Royal Baloo

8. Activity Pairs

Firstly, have students color in the puzzle pieces. The aim is to glue the name of each organelle on the top and the function and information on the sides. Organize all the names, functions, and information in groups and have students then match these up.

Learn More: Commoncore Material

9. Plant Cell Labeling

For this plant cell activity, students must carefully label the parts of the cell. It’s perfect for an end-of-lesson activity to check to understand. It can be completed independently or in small groups.

Learn More: Science Facts

10. Plant Cell Jello

Use green jello for this activity and a rectangular shaped dish to mimic the shape of the plant cell. Provide some different-sized and textured food items that students will use to represent the different parts of the cell and label them. 

Learn More: HSR Science

11. MYO Cell Cake

For this tasty activity, you will need a pack of vanilla cake mix, frosting, and green coloring for your cytoplasm. Your kids can use candy and other sweet treats to create the other parts of the cell. Place these on top of the cake mix and green cytoplasm frosting, and label what they are. 

Learn More: Somewhat Simple

12. Dough Cell Activity

This simple activity requires you to have a few different colors of play-dough for learners to visually represent the different parts of the cell. In this model, they used orange for the cytoplasm and a red cotton ball for the nucleus.

Learn More: Mavenhood Blogspot

13. Make a Lapbook

Students love to make their own resources. They can create this colorful lap book by simply folding a piece of A4 paper in half. Students will then design the front with colorful diagrams of plant and animal cells. Inside, they will detail their research on animal cell structures. 

Learn More: We Have Kids

14. Animal Cell T-Shirt

Use fabric markers, buttons, pom poms, and other common craft items to make this animal cell shirt! A great end-of-topic activity for students and it serves as a great reminder of the parts of the cells.

Learn More: Discover Hubpages

15. Shrinky Dinks Cell Model

If you’ve never used shrinky dinks before, it’s plastic that can be drawn on, and when put in the oven it shrinks. It can be purchased at your local craft store. Have students draw the outline of the cell- using a diagram for reference.

Learn More: Teacher Thrive

16. Mint Tin Cell Model

Print the parts of a cell onto a piece of cardstock and cut them out. Have students place these in their correct positions within the cell walls, i.e. the tin. 

17. Cell Doors

Give students a piece of A4 paper folded in half. They must then use scissors to make eight slits, for eight windows. They draw and label a cell on each window and write information about each inside!

Learn More: Teaching in Room 6

18. Cell Wheel

Each foldable has two layers; the organelle name, and the function. When matched up to the correct color, facts are revealed about the organelle. This can be stuck in books or kept on desks as a learning resource.

19. Plant Cell Model Activity

For this activity, different objects are used to represent the different parts of the plant cell. Make sure students arrange the objects carefully before gluing them down. They can use diagrams as a reference!

Learn More: JDaniel 4’s Mom

20. Animal Cell Model

This fun animal cell activity uses fruit to teach the different parts! Making something by hand makes it easier for kids to visualize a cell and all its functions. Work with what you have around the classroom.

Learn More: Research Parent

Comparing Plant Cells

Purpose: Students will observe plant cells using a light microscope. Two cells will be observed, one from the skin of an onion, and the other from a common aquarium water plant (anacharis). Students will compare both types of cells and identify structures visible in each.

[ Google Doc File ]

Materials Required: Microscopes and slides (Iodine for staining, optional)

Specimens: Onion, Elodea , Spiryogyra

Prelab Questions

1. What is the function of chloroplasts?

2. Name two structures found in plant cells but not animal cells.

3. Name three structures found in plant cells AND in animal cells.

4. What structure surrounds the cell membrane (in plants) and gives the cell support.

Part A - Onion Cells

Obtain a prepared slide of onion cells or prepare one yourself. View under the microscope and sketch the cells at each magnification. Label the cells as they appear under high power.

Part B - Elodea Cells

View a prepared slide of elodea ( anacharis ), which is an aquarium plant. As the slide warms from the light of the microscope, you may see the chloroplasts moving, a process called cytoplasmic streaming.

Post Lab Questions

1. Describe the shape and the location of chloroplasts.

2. Why were no chloroplasts found in the onion cells? (hint: think about where you find onions)

3. Which type of cell was smaller - the onion cells or the elodea cells? How do you know?

4. Fill out theVenn Diagram below to show the differences and similarities between the onion cells and the elodea cells.

5. Did you notice the chloroplasts moving within the cytoplasm of the elodea plant? Do they all move in the same pattern or direction?

Suggest a reason why these structures move. Develop a quick experiment to test your hypothesis. Describe the test below, and if you have time conduct the test.

Related Resources

Plant Lessons and Teaching Resources

Microscope Lab on Human Cheek Cells

Plant Experiments for Biology Class

Would you like to incorporate more plant experiments for your Biology lesson plans? Not sure how plant labs fit into your course standards? We’ve got some great plant lab ideas for you and will help you see how they can align with the Next Generation High School Life Science Standards *. Below we have listed the main concepts from these standards and high-quality activities to support student learning. For your convenience, specific Life Science standards are listed in parentheses after each activity.

Structure and Function  

“How do the structures of organisms enable life’s functions?” (NGSS, 2013). In a Biology course, students can explore plant cells and how they work together to help plants live and grow. 

• In these Plant Anatomy Lab Stations , students move through seven labs to learn about plant anatomy and physiology. In one station, students observe models of wood and bark and draw conclusions about the functions of those parts (LS1-2). In another station, students explore how transpiration helps maintain homeostasis in the plant (LS1-3). 
• This Free Plant Cell Lab gives many wonderful examples of how students can explore the structure and function of organelles in various types of plant cells (LS1-2) and ends with an explanation of osmosis in plant cells (LS1-3).
• If your students have never observed stomata on leaves, this photosynthesis lab is a great option. The quick and easy procedure will be sure to wow your students (LS1-2). By changing the environment surrounding the stomata, students can also see how guard cells protect the homeostatic balance of water in the leaf (LS1-3).

Matter and Energy in Organisms and Ecosystems

“How do organisms obtain and use energy they need to live and grow? How do matter and energy move through ecosystems?” (NGSS, 2013). In a Biology classroom, students can use live plants to explore the processes of photosynthesis and cellular respiration. 

• In this Bromothymol Blue Lab on photosynthesis and cellular respiration, students use their own breath to cause a color change in a solution. They then use variables such as the addition of plants and light to determine which will eliminate the carbon dioxide from the solution (LS1-5, LS 1-7).

• In this FREE Leaf Chromatography Lab , students use litmus paper to observe pigments involved in the photosynthetic process (LS1-5). They are able to explore how photosynthesis transforms light energy into stored energy during various seasons. 

Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems  

“How do organisms interact with the living and non-living environment to obtain matter and energy?” (NGSS, 2013). In a Biology or Environmental Science course, students can explore the biodiversity of plants in their area and the effects of human activity on plant ecosystems and forests.

• Students can identify the number of plant species in a local area using quadrats or line transects.  This high school Biodiversity Unit shows students how to calculate biodiversity indices and complete a line transect for a local plant community.

• Although forests can be a vital resource for humans, they are impacted by overharvesting and pests.  These forestry activities help students to identify the ecological and economic benefits of forests to provide for sustainable practices.

Natural Selection and Evolution 

““How can there be so many similarities among organisms yet so many different plants, animals, and microorganisms? How does biodiversity affect humans?” (NGSS, 2013). In a Biology classroom, students can explore how common ancestry and biological evolution are supported in the study of plants.

• This FREE Plant Cladogram Activity , perfect for a unit on evolution, introduces the idea of common ancestry as students make their own cladogram for the plant kingdom. (LS 4-1)

• PBS has an entertaining video showing the evolution of land plants from algae. (LS 4-4)
• Wisconsin Fast Plants(R) has a thorough collection of high school lessons that coordinate with topics like inheritance patterns, variation, and natural selection.

*Please note: NGSS is a registered trademark of WestEd.  Neither WestEd nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards were involved in the production of these lessons, and do not endorse it. 

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Observing Plant Cells

Carolina labsheets™.

In this lab students observe  Elodea  leaves under magnification. They will see cell walls and chloroplasts. From the movement of chloroplasts they will infer that cyclosis, or protoplasmic streaming, is occurring. They also will observe that most chloroplasts are pressed tightly against the cell wall and should infer from this that much of the cell is occupied by a vacuole.

Needed Materials

• Elodea (Egeria densa), Living (162101)
• Elodea canadensis, Living (162111)
• Elodea Tips, Living (157340)
• Springwater (132450) or conditioned tap water
• Small tanks or large beakers for Elodea
• Forceps (623990)
• Droppers (158981)
• Microscopes (590960)
• Microscope slides (631920)
• Coverslips (632900)
• Dissecting needles (627220)

Optional Materials

In  Elodea , cyclosis is easy to observe because chloroplasts move with the cytoplasm as it flows. Light and heat stimulate cyclosis in  Elodea . Tungsten or halogen substage microscope lamps produce both heat and light, so after 2–3 minutes, students should be able to observe the movement of chloroplasts. If your microscopes have fluorescent or LED lamps, these produce very little heat and often will not stimulate cyclosis. To provide the needed heat, use a desk lamp equipped with a halogen bulb. Position the lamp so that it shines down on the lab bench. After a few minutes, the surface of the lab bench should become noticeably warm to the touch. Students can place their slides on this warm surface for 3 minutes and then look for signs of cyclosis. A somewhat better arrangement is to position the lamp so that it shines directly onto the stage of a microscope, thereby heating the slide while students view it. Not all slides will show cyclosis, so have students share those that do, so that everyone has the opportunity see the movement.

Ensure that students understand and adhere to safe laboratory practices when performing any activity in the classroom or lab. Demonstrate the protocol for correctly using the instruments and materials necessary to complete the activities, and emphasize the importance of proper usage. Use personal protective equipment such as  safety glasses  or  goggles ,  gloves , and  aprons  when appropriate. Model proper  laboratory safety practices  for your students and require them to adhere to all laboratory safety rules.

To insure that your  Elodea  is in prime condition for this and other labs, refer to our  Elodea  Carolina™ CareSheet  (available at  www.carolina.com ). Although you can receive  Elodea  and use it the same day, it is much better to condition the plants under lights for 2 days.

On the day of the lab set up 2 or more small tanks or large beakers, each containing water and  Elodea . Place forceps and droppers alongside each container. Also, set up stations for pickup of microscope slides, coverslips, and dissecting needles.

Optional:  If students have studied osmosis, they can observe plasmolysis. Make a 6% solution of  NaCl  by dissolving 6 g of NaCl in 70 mL of distilled or deionized water and bringing the final volume to 100 mL. (A 6% NaCl solution is approximately 1 M NaCl.)

Students are unlikely to observe nuclei in  Elodea  cells. However, nuclei are easily observed in stained cells of onion skin. Quarter an onion and separate the layers. Use forceps to remove the skin from the inner (concave) surface of a layer. Cut or tear the onion skin into small pieces that will fit under a coverslip. Place the onion skin on a microscope slide and smooth out as many wrinkles as possible. Add a drop of stain to cover the onion skin. A number of stains can be used, including iodine solutions ( iodine-potassium iodide ,  Lugol solution ,  Gram iodine ),  crystal violet ,  toluidine blue , and  methylene blue . After 1 minute, rinse away the stain with tap water, add a coverslip, and observe the cells. Nuclei will be evident.

In addition to light and heat, pH also influences cyclosis. Have students conduct a study to determine at what pH cyclosis is most likely to occur.

Answer Key to Questions Asked on the Student LabSheet

• How many layers of cells do you observe? Most Elodea leaves have 3 layers of cells.
• Do you find that most of the chloroplasts are concentrated against the inner cell wall? If so, what is the likely explanation? The central part of the cell is filled with a large vacuole. Note:  Under high power magnification students may actually see that the cytoplasm is a thin layer appressed to the cell wall. They may also observe individual chloroplasts as they appear to squeeze through this layer.
• The cytoplasm in a cell may move, carrying organelles along with it. Cytoplasmic streaming is called cyclosis. Do you see any indication of cyclosis in the  Elodea  cells? If so, describe what you see. Yes. The chloroplasts are moving, indicating that the cytoplasm is moving.
• Based on your observations, list at least 2 features of  Elodea  cells that you would not expect to find in an animal cell. A cell wall and chloroplasts are not found in animal cells. Students also might infer the presence of a large central vacuole. (Although not directly observed, this is compatible with observations that were made.)

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Easy Plant Experiments For Kids

Plants come in all shapes, sizes, and colors and are essential for life on Earth. Learn more about how incredible plants are with these hands-on plant experiments and printable plant worksheets. You will find easy plant activities and ideas for elementary to middle school. We love do-able science experiments for kids!

Plant Science

Plant science or botany is a fun topic to teach to kids of all ages. We have a range of plant experiments and projects that would work well in a wide range of settings, from home to the classroom.

Our science activities are designed with you, the parent or teacher, in mind. Easy to set up and quick to do, most activities take only 15 to 30 minutes and are fun. Plus, you don’t need a ton of expensive materials!

Learn about…

• How living things form part of systems.
• How energy flows through simple systems.
• Develop observational skills and practice making predictions.
• Understand the role of variables in measuring changes.

These plant experiments below are great for elementary to middle school students. For our younger kiddos, check out our list of plant activities for preschoolers .

Plant Facts For Kids

• Most plants need water, soil, and sunlight to grow.
• We need plants because they produce oxygen, clean the air we breathe, provide food, they are homes and food for many other living things, and more.
• Some plants are carnivorous. That means they eat animals (like spiders and insects)!
• 80% of flowering plants have adaptions so that they can be pollinated by bees and other insects or birds.
• Some plants do not have flowers or seeds, moss, and ferns. They reproduce by making spores.
• There are over 390,000 different types of plants in the world. Over 90% of which are flowering plants.
• Some plants live underwater and are called aquatic plants.
• About half of all plants are edible. Yet we only eat about 200 plants, and three plants, rice, wheat, and corn, make up over 50% of the plants we eat.

Tips For A Plant Science Project

Science projects are an excellent tool for kids to show what they know about science! Plus, they can be used in various environments, including classrooms, homeschool, and groups.

Kids can take what they have learned about using the scientific method , stating a hypothesis, choosing variables , and analyzing and presenting data.

Our seed germination experiment and plastic bottle greenhouse are both great plant growth experiments to consider for a science project.

Want to turn one of these experiments into an awesome science fair project? Check out these helpful resources.

• Science Project Tips From A Teacher
• Science Fair Board Ideas
• Easy Science Fair Projects

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Science Experiments With Plants

More than plant growth experiments, we have lots of fun ways for you to explore plant science for kids. Learn about capillary action, osmosis, respiration, and more.

Acid Rain Experiment

What happens to plants when rain is acidic? Set up an easy acid rain project with this flowers in vinegar experiment. Explore what causes acid rain and what can be done about it.

Celery Experiment

This celery food coloring experiment is a great way to show how water travels through a plant.

Color Changing Flowers

Turn white flowers into all sorts of fun colors! Observe capillary action at work as water moves up the stem to the flower.

ALSO CHECK OUT: Color Changing Carnations

Flower Dissection

Grab some flowers, and do a simple flower dissection to identify and name the parts of a flower. Pair it with our printable parts of a flower diagram.

Glowing Spinach

Transform ordinary spinach that you eat into a glowing green mixture under ultraviolet light! Learn about the pigments present in plants, particularly chlorophyll and how certain pigments can absorb light at one wavelength and emit light at another, resulting in the observed glow.

How Do Plants Breath

This fun plant science experiment is a great way to teach kids about plant respiration. All you need are some green leaves and water to observe how plants breathe.

Leaf Chromatography

Have you ever wondered how leaves get their color? Discover the hidden pigments that are in leaves with this fun chromatography experiment. Chromatography is a technique used in chemistry that separates the components of a mixture into its individual parts.

ALSO CHECK OUT: Marker Chromatography Experiment

Learn about how water travels through leaves with this simple science experiment. Watch what happens when you put leaves into a jar of colored water!

Mini Greenhouse

Enjoy the wonder of growing plants by making an easy mini greenhouse from plastic bottles. Includes suggestions for turning it into a plant growth experiment.

Potato Osmosis Lab

Plant roots absorb water from the soil through osmosis. Learn about osmosis with this fun potato osmosis experiment. Investigate what happens to potatoes when you put them in a concentration of salt water and then pure water.

Regrow Lettuce

Did you know that you can regrow certain vegetables from their stalks right on the kitchen counter? Give it a try!

Seed Germination Experiment

Investigate what factors affect the germination of seeds with a simple germination jar. Kids love being able to watch the growth of the seeds!

Bonus Plant Activities & Worksheets

Ever noticed that different plants live in different parts of the world? Learn about what a biome is and examples of biomes around the world with this fun biomes lapbook project. 

Carbon Cycle

Plants have an important role in the carbon cycle which sustains life on earth. Find out what the carbon cycle is , and how plants are involved.

Explore the important role plants have as producers in the food chain . Includes printable food chain worksheets.

Honey Bee Life Cycle

Bees are important pollinators for flowering plants. Find out some fun facts about honey bees with this printable bee life cycle lapbook activity.

Life Cycle Of A Bean Plant

Learn about green bean plants with these fun and free printable life cycle of a bean plant worksheets! Find out more about how beans grow and learn about the stages of bean growth.

Life Cycle Of A Pine Tree

Learn about pine trees, and how they are different to flowering plants with these printable pine tree life cycle worksheets.

Parts of a Flower

Learn about the parts of a flower and what they do with this fun printable parts of a flower diagram.

Parts of a Leaf

A fun and easy way to learn the parts of a leaf . Grab this printable leaf coloring page!

Photosynthesis

How do plants get their food? Green plants make their own food and food for us through the process of photosynthesis . Use these printable worksheets to introduce the steps of photosynthesis to kids.

Plant Cells

Color in and label the parts of a plant cell as you explore what makes plant cells different to animal cells.

Pollinators

Explore the important role of pollinators in the reproduction of flowering plants with our printable pollinator activity guide.

Printable Spring Pack

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~ projects to try now ~.

23 Plant Experiment Ideas

ThoughtCo / Hilary Allison

• Cell Biology
• Weather & Climate
• B.A., Biology, Emory University
• A.S., Nursing, Chattahoochee Technical College

Plants are tremendously crucial to life on Earth. They are the foundation of food chains in almost every ecosystem. Plants also play a significant role in the environment by influencing climate and producing life-giving oxygen.

Plant experiments and studies allow us to learn about plant biology and its potential usage for plants in other fields such as medicine , agriculture , and biotechnology . The following plant experiment ideas provide suggestions for topics to be explored.

Plant Experiment Ideas

• Do magnetic fields affect plant growth?
• Do different colors of light affect the direction of plant growth?
• Do sounds (music, noise, etc.) affect plant growth?
• Do different colors of light affect the rate of photosynthesis ?
• What are the effects of acid rain on plant growth?
• Do household detergents affect plant growth?
• Can plants conduct electricity ?
• Does cigarette smoke affect plant growth?
• Does soil temperature affect root growth?
• Does caffeine affect plant growth?
• Does water salinity affect plant growth?
• Does artificial gravity affect seed germination?
• Does freezing affect seed germination?
• Does burned soil affect seed germination?
• Does seed size affect plant height?
• Does fruit size affect the number of seeds in the fruit?
• Do vitamins or fertilizers promote plant growth?
• Do fertilizers extend plant life during a drought ?
• Does leaf size affect plant transpiration rates?
• Can plant spices inhibit bacterial growth ?
• Do different types of artificial light affect plant growth?
• Does soil pH affect plant growth?
• Do carnivorous plants prefer certain insects?
• Guide to the 6 Kingdoms of Life
• Phases of the Bacterial Growth Curve
• Gram Positive vs. Gram Negative Bacteria
• Animal Studies and School Project Ideas
• Angiosperms
• 10 Facts About Pollen
• Nematoda: Roundworms
• Is Spontaneous Generation Real?
• Parts of a Flowering Plant
• 5 Tricks Plants Use to Lure Pollinators
• Carnivorous Plants
• Mutualism: Symbiotic Relationships
• The Photosynthesis Formula: Turning Sunlight into Energy
• All About Photosynthetic Organisms
• Protista Kingdom of Life
• Common Animal Questions and Answers

Top 28 Plant Cell Project Ideas

Plant cell projects are super cool and exciting ways to learn about the tiny building blocks of plants. Imagine going on an adventure inside a plant, but instead of going in person, you create things like models, posters, or even yummy treats to discover how plant cells work. These projects make studying biology fun and easy to understand. Whether you’re a student looking to impress your teacher or a teacher trying to make learning awesome, these plant cell project ideas will help you explore the secrets of plants in a hands-on way. So, get ready to dive into the amazing world of plant cells through these creative projects!

What is Plant Cell Project?

A plant cell project is a creative and educational activity where you learn about the different parts and functions of a plant cell by making things like 3D models, posters, drawings, or even edible stuff like Jell-O or cookies that look like plant cells. These projects help you understand how plants are built at a tiny level, and they’re often used in schools to make learning about biology more fun and hands-on. So, it’s like a fun project where you explore and show what a plant cell is made of!

What Can Be Used For a Plant Cell Project?

For a plant cell project, various materials and approaches can be used to create engaging and informative presentations. Common materials include craft supplies like clay, foam, cardboard, and paper for constructing 3D models, dioramas, or posters. Edible items like gelatin, candy, and cookies can add a fun twist to hands-on learning. Digital tools such as apps, PowerPoint presentations, and virtual tours can also be employed for interactive experiences. Additionally, artistic mediums like drawing, painting, or collage can be used for visual representations. The choice depends on the project’s scope, intended audience, and available resources, allowing for flexibility and creativity in teaching and learning about plant cells.

1. 3D Plant Cell Model

Create a 3D model of a plant cell using craft materials like clay, foam, or even edible items like cake or gelatin. Label the parts and discuss their functions.

2. Cellular Collage

Collect images or draw various plant cell components and create a collage. Add labels and descriptions to make it informative.

3. Plant Cell Diagram

Draw a detailed plant cell diagram on a poster board or computer, highlighting key organelles and structures.

4. Plant Cell Board Game

Design a board game that teaches players about plant cell structures and functions. Include trivia questions and challenges.

5. Interactive Plant Cell App

Create a smartphone app or a digital presentation that allows users to explore a plant cell in 3D, tapping on organelles for explanations.

6. Plant Cell Comic Strip

Tell the story of a plant cell through a comic strip, making it both visually appealing and informative.

7. Plant Cell Diorama

Construct a plant cell diorama inside a shoebox, using small objects to represent organelles.

8. Plant Cell Mobile

Craft a hanging mobile with different organelles suspended from strings. Label each part for easy identification.

9. Plant Cell Poetry

Write a poem or song about plant cells, using rhymes and verses to describe their components.

10. Plant Cell Crossword Puzzle

Develop a crossword puzzle with clues related to plant cell structures and functions.

11. Plant Cell PowerPoint Presentation

Create an educational PowerPoint presentation explaining plant cell anatomy and its importance.

12. Plant Cell Infographic

Design an infographic that visually summarizes the key features of a plant cell.

13. Plant Cell Video Tutorial

Record a video tutorial explaining plant cell concepts, using drawings or models for visual aid.

14. Edible Plant Cell

Make an edible plant cell using food items like Jell-O, candy, and fruit. Enjoy a tasty lesson!

15. Plant Cell Storybook

Write a story or short book where each character represents an organelle and their roles in the plant cell.

16. Plant Cell Puzzle

Design a puzzle with plant cell images that students can assemble, reinforcing their understanding of cell components.

17. Plant Cell T-shirt Design

Create a custom T-shirt design with a colorful representation of a plant cell.

18. Virtual Plant Cell Tour

Develop a virtual tour of a plant cell, using 3D modeling software or online platforms.

19. Plant Cell Origami

Fold origami shapes to represent organelles, explaining their functions as you go.

20. Plant Cell Flashcards

Make flashcards with images of plant cell organelles on one side and descriptions on the other.

21. Plant Cell Trading Cards

Design trading cards for plant cell organelles, complete with statistics and fun facts.

22. Plant Cell Cross-Section Model

Construct a cross-section model of a plant cell to show organelles in their relative positions.

23. Plant Cell Cookies

Bake cookies in the shape of plant cells and decorate them to resemble organelles.

24. Plant Cell Memory Game

Create a memory card game featuring pairs of organelles and their corresponding functions.

25. Plant Cell Quiz Show

Host a quiz show-style competition where participants answer questions about plant cell biology.

26. Plant Cell Wall Art

Design wall art using recycled materials to represent a plant cell, combining creativity and eco-friendliness.

27. Plant Cell Riddles

Write riddles that describe plant cell organelles, challenging others to solve them.

28. Plant Cell Science Fair Project

For advanced students, consider conducting experiments related to plant cells and present findings at a science fair.

Plant cell projects are fantastic tools for learning about the inner workings of plants in a fun and engaging way. These projects offer a hands-on experience that helps us remember and understand how plant cells function. Whether you choose to make models, drawings, or even delicious edible cells, these activities make science enjoyable. They are not just for students but also for teachers who want to make lessons more exciting. By exploring the mysteries of plant cells through these creative projects, we gain a deeper appreciation for the amazing world of plants and the tiny but essential components that make them thrive.

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Summer holiday science: turn your home into a lab with these three easy experiments

Associate Professor in Biology, University of Limerick

Disclosure statement

Audrey O'Grady receives funding from Science Foundation Ireland. She is affiliated with Department of Biological Sciences, University of Limerick.

University of Limerick provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK.

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Many people think science is difficult and needs special equipment, but that’s not true.

Science can be explored at home using everyday materials. Everyone, especially children, naturally ask questions about the world around them, and science offers a structured way to find answers.

Misconceptions about the difficulty of science often stem from a lack of exposure to its fun and engaging side. Science can be as simple as observing nature, mixing ingredients or exploring the properties of objects. It’s not just for experts in white coats, but for everyone.

Don’t take my word for it. Below are three experiments that can be done at home with children who are primary school age and older.

Extract DNA from bananas

DNA is all the genetic information inside cells. Every living thing has DNA, including bananas.

Did you know you can extract DNA from banana cells?

What you need: ¼ ripe banana, Ziploc bag, salt, water, washing-up liquid, rubbing alcohol (from a pharmacy), coffee filter paper, stirrer.

What you do:

Place a pinch of salt into about 20ml of water in a cup.

Add the salty water to the Ziploc bag with a quarter of a banana and mash the banana up with the salty water inside the bag, using your hands. Mashing the banana separates out the banana cells. The salty water helps clump the DNA together.

Once the banana is mashed up well, pour the banana and salty water into a coffee filter (you can lay the filter in the cup you used to make the salty water). Filtering removes the big clumps of banana cells.

Once a few ml have filtered out, add a drop of washing-up liquid and swirl gently. Washing-up liquid breaks down the fats in the cell membranes which makes the DNA separate from the other parts of the cell.

Slowly add some rubbing alcohol (about 10ml) to the filtered solution. DNA is insoluble in alcohol, therefore the DNA will clump together away from the alcohol and float, making it easy to see.

DNA will start to precipitate out looking slightly cloudy and stringy. What you’re seeing is thousands of DNA strands – the strands are too small to be seen even with a normal microscope. Scientists use powerful equipment to see individual strands.

Learn how plants ‘drink’ water

What you need: celery stalks (with their leaves), glass or clear cup, water, food dye, camera.

• Fill the glass ¾ full with water and add 10 drops of food dye.
• Place a celery stalk into the glass of coloured water. Take a photograph of the celery.
• For two to three days, photograph the celery at the same time every day. Make sure you take a photograph at the very start of the experiment.

What happens and why?

All plants, such as celery, have vertical tubes that act like a transport system. These narrow tubes draw up water using a phenomenon known as capillarity.

Imagine you have a thin straw and you dip it into a glass of water. Have you ever noticed how the water climbs up the straw a little bit, even though you didn’t suck on it? This is because of capillarity.

In plants, capillarity helps move water from the roots to the leaves. Plants have tiny tubes inside them, like thin straws, called capillaries. The water sticks to the sides of these tubes and climbs up. In your experiment, you will see the food dye in the water make its way to the leaves.

Build a balloon-powered racecar

What you need: tape, scissors, two skewers, cardboard, four bottle caps, one straw, one balloon.

• Cut the cardboard to about 10cm long and 5cm wide. This will form the base of your car.
• Make holes in the centre of four bottle caps. These are your wheels.
• To make the axles insert the wooden skewers through the holes in the cap. You will need to cut the skewers to fit the width of the cardboard base, but leave room for the wheels.
• Secure the wheels to the skewers with tape.
• Attach the axles to the underside of the car base with tape, ensuring the wheels can spin freely.
• Insert a straw into the opening of a balloon and secure it with tape, ensuring there are no air leaks.
• Attach the other end of the straw to the top of the car base, positioning it so the balloon can inflate and deflate towards the back of the car. Secure the straw with tape.
• Inflate the balloon through the straw, pinch the straw to hold the air, place the car on a flat surface, then release the straw.

The inflated balloon stores potential energy when blown up. When the air is released, Newton’s third law of motion kicks into gear: for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

As the air rushes out of the balloon (action), it pushes the car in the opposite direction (reaction). The escaping air propels the car forward, making it move across the surface.

• Science experiments

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Ag + ions are effective elicitors for enhancing the production of phenolic acids and tanshinones in Salvia aristata Aucher ex Benth. hairy roots

• Original Article
• Published: 17 August 2024
• Volume 158 , article number  44 , ( 2024 )

Cite this article

• Raziye Rahchamani   ORCID: orcid.org/0009-0004-5375-4751 1 ,
• Tayebeh Radjabian   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-8280-9409 1 &
• Parvaneh Abrishamchi   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-0720-5880 2  

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Salvia aristata Aucher ex Benth. is considered a valuable endemic medicinal plant in Iran due to its two main bioactive metabolites: phenolic acids and tanshinones. This study established hairy root (HR) cultures from 14-day-old seedlings inoculated with Rhizobium rhizogenes strain ATCC 15834. In addition, the effects of elicitation with Ag + ions (15 and 25 µM) on growth indices, phenolic acid and tanshinone contents in the HRs, as well as changes in the expression patterns of key genes involved in their biosynthetic pathways were investigated in a time-course experiment. The results showed that exposure of HRs to both Ag + ions concentrations significantly increased rosmarinic acid (1.34- to 1.43-fold) and salvianolic acid B (1.71- to 1.82-fold) content. Notably, exposure to 25 µM Ag + ions for seven days resulted in increases of 7.25-, 7.78-, 6.47-, and 3.9-fold in total tanshinones, tanshinone I, tanshinone IIA, and cryptotanshinone levels, respectively, compared to the control groups. The study also revealed a significant increase in the release of tanshinones, especially tanshinone IIA (31.49 ± 0.65 mg L −1 ) by HRs into the culture medium following Ag + ions elicitation. Changes in the transcription levels of key genes related to the biosynthetic pathways of phenolic acids ( PAL , TAT , and RAS ) and tanshinones ( CPS and CYP76AH1 ) were also associated with their contents in the elicited HRs. The findings confirm the effectiveness of elicitation as a strategy to enhance metabolite production in HR cultures of S. aristata , a potent natural source of phenolic acids and tanshinones.

Key message

An efficient protocol was established for Salvia aristata hairy root cultures. Additionally, the findings showed that elicitation with Ag + ions could enhance tanshinone and phenolic acid production in hairy roots.

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• Environmental Chemistry

Abbreviations

Rosmarinic acid

Salvianolic acid A

Salvianolic acid B

Caffeic acid

Vanillic acid

Chlorogenic acid

Tanshinone I

Tanshinone IIA

Cryptotanshinone

Dihydrotanshinone I

Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase

Tyrosine aminotransferase

Rosmarinic acid synthase

1-Deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase

1-Deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase

Methylerythritol 4-phosphate

Geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase

Copalyl diphosphate synthase

Kaurene synthase-like

Cytochrome-dependent P450 monooxygenases

Hairy roots

American Type Culture Collection

Polymerase chain reaction

Fresh weight

Total phenolic content

4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate reductase

Cinnamate 4-hydroxylase

4-Coumarate coenzyme A ligase

3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase

2-C-Methyl-D-erythritol 2,4-cyclodiphosphate synthase

Abdollahi-Ghehi H, Sonboli A, Ebrahimi SN, Esmaeili MA, Mirjalili MH (2019) Triterpenic acid content and cytotoxicity of some Salvia species from Iran. Nat Prod Commun 14:1–8. https://doi.org/10.1177/1934578X19842722

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Attaran Dowom S, Abrishamchi P, Radjabian T, Salami SA (2022) Elicitor-induced phenolic acids accumulation in Salvia virgata Jacq. hairy root cultures. Plant Cell Tiss Org (PCTOC) 148:107–117. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-021-02170-8

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Caylak E (2024) Determination of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Salvia aethiopis / sclarea and synthesized silver nanoparticles. Ann Med Res 31:169–176. https://doi.org/10.5455/annalsmedres.2024.01.08

Clarke JD (2009) Cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) DNA miniprep for plant DNA isolation. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 3:5177–5178. https://doi.org/10.1101/pdb.prot5177

Deng C, Hao X, Shi M, Fu R, Wang Y, Zhang Y, Makunga NP, Kai G (2019) Tanshinone production could be increased by the expression of SmWRKY2 in Salvia miltiorrhiza hairy roots. J Plant Sci 284:1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2019.03.007

Dougué Kentsop RA, Devi P, Copetta A, Ruffoni B, Parisi V, Bisio A, Iobbi V (2024) Salvia Species: biotechnological strategies applied to in vitro cultures for the controlled production of bioactive diterpenoids. Agronomy 14(4):835. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14040835

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Rahchamani, R., Radjabian, T. & Abrishamchi, P. Ag + ions are effective elicitors for enhancing the production of phenolic acids and tanshinones in Salvia aristata Aucher ex Benth. hairy roots. Plant Cell Tiss Organ Cult 158 , 44 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-024-02844-z

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Comparison of the in vitro iron bioavailability of tempeh made with tenebrio molitor to beef and plant-based meat alternatives.

1. Introduction

2. materials and methods, 2.1. mealworm sourcing, 2.2. tempeh production, 2.3. sample cooking and homogenization, 2.4. gastrointestinal digestion, 2.5. microwave digestion, 2.6. inductively coupled plasma and mass spectrometry (icp-ms) analysis, 2.7. caco-2 cell assay, 2.8. ferritin analysis, 2.9. statistical analysis, 3.1. comparison of total iron, soluble iron, and iron bioavailability of insect-based tempeh compared to soybean-based controls, 3.2. comparison of soluble and bioavailable iron from meat with plant- or insect-based meat alternatives, 4. discussion, 5. conclusions, author contributions, institutional review board statement, informed consent statement, data availability statement, conflicts of interest.

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Wilson, J.W.; Thompson, T.W.; Wei, Y.; Chaparro, J.M.; Stull, V.J.; Nair, M.N.; Weir, T.L. Comparison of the In Vitro Iron Bioavailability of Tempeh Made with Tenebrio molitor to Beef and Plant-Based Meat Alternatives. Nutrients 2024 , 16 , 2756. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16162756

Wilson JW, Thompson TW, Wei Y, Chaparro JM, Stull VJ, Nair MN, Weir TL. Comparison of the In Vitro Iron Bioavailability of Tempeh Made with Tenebrio molitor to Beef and Plant-Based Meat Alternatives. Nutrients . 2024; 16(16):2756. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16162756

Wilson, John W., Tyler W. Thompson, Yuren Wei, Jacqueline M. Chaparro, Valerie J. Stull, Mahesh N. Nair, and Tiffany L. Weir. 2024. "Comparison of the In Vitro Iron Bioavailability of Tempeh Made with Tenebrio molitor to Beef and Plant-Based Meat Alternatives" Nutrients 16, no. 16: 2756. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16162756

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