Stomata Density and Wisconsin Fast Plants – Video Notes

Vocabulary flashcards covering stomata biology, microscopy concepts, and the Wisconsin Fast Plants lab notes.

Wisconsin Fast Plants

A cultivar of Brassica rapa developed at the University of Wisconsin–Madison; fast-growing, completing a life cycle in about 40–45 days and used in classrooms to teach biology; over 150 described genetic traits.

Brassica rapa

The species name for Wisconsin Fast Plants; mustard family member used for rapid life cycle studies and teaching.

Stomata

Microscopic pores on the leaf surface that facilitate gas exchange; formed by two guard cells and open/close in response to light and osmotic changes.

Guard cells

Bean-shaped cells that flank the stomatal pore and control its opening and closing.

Stomatal pore

The opening between guard cells through which CO2 enters the leaf and water vapor leaves during transpiration.

Stomatal density

The number of stomata per unit leaf area; can vary with leaf surface (sun vs. shade) and environmental conditions

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants convert light energy and CO2 into sugars; O2 is released as a byproduct, and stomata regulate CO2 uptake.

Transpiration

Loss of water vapor from a plant through open stomata, linked to stomatal opening and environmental conditions.

Sun-exposed leaves

Leaves that receive direct or high light exposure; often studied for differences in stomatal density compared to shade leaves.

Shade-exposed leaves

Leaves that receive indirect or low light; studied to compare stomatal density with sun-exposed leaves.

Leaf impressions

A method used to visualize stomata by creating an impression of the leaf surface for microscopic viewing.

Field of View (FOV)

The observable area through a microscope at a given magnification, used to count stomata in a 400X view.

Field Number (FN)

The nominal diameter of the field of view on the ocular lens; used with objective magnification to calculate the FOV size.

Ocular magnification

Magnification provided by the eyepiece (commonly 10X).

Objective magnification

Magnification provided by the objective lens (examples: 4X, 10X, 40X).

Total magnification

Product of ocular and objective magnifications (e.g., 10X × 40X = 400X).

Guiding Question

The central question guiding the investigation (e.g., Is stomatal density different in sun-exposed vs shade-exposed leaves on the same plant?).

Lab Report Guidelines

Formatting and content requirements for the lab report: Title, Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion, Literature Cited; 12-point Times New Roman; 1-inch margins.