Investigating Polyploidy: Using Marigold Stomates & Fingernail Polish

Author/Creator ORCID

Date

2002-05

Department

Biological Sciences

Program

Citation of Original Publication

Hunter, K. L., Leone, R. S., Kohlhepp, K., & Hunter, R. B. (2002). Investigating polyploidy: Using marigold stomates & fingernail polish. The American biology teacher, 64(5), 364-368.

Rights

Abstract

Hands-on experimentation with polyploidy is a useful approach to connect research with classroom teaching. The following activity uses marigolds to explore the effects of differing chromosome number on plant cell size. Researchers have documented a correlation between plant ploidy and guard cell size, and its correlate, density (Masterson 1994). Guard cells control opening and closing of stomates on the leaf surface.