INVESTIGATORY PROJECT

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Effect of nicotine on plants

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CONTENT

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Chapter 1: Introduction
Intro to nicotine

Nicotine is a potent parasympathomimetic alkaloid found in the nightshade family of plants (Solanaceae). It acts as a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonist. It is made in the roots and accumulates in the leaves of the plants. It constitutes approximately 0.63.0% of the dry weight of tobacco[1] and is present in the range of 27 g/kg of various edible plants.[2] It functions as an antiherbivore chemical; therefore, nicotine was widely used as an insecticide in the past[3][4][5] and nicotine analogs such as imidacloprid are currently widely used.

Nicotine is the addictive substance that occurs naturally in the tobacco plant. This substance is poisonous and when it is concentrated, it can be used as an insecticide. The effects of nicotine on the human body are well documented because of the research gathered on smoking. However, the effects of nicotine can be investigated in a variety of other science projects.

Nicotine is a powerful natural alkaloid.

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image:The Effect of Nicotine on Plant Growth | eHow http://www.ehow.com/facts_7286087_effect-nicotine-plant-growth.html#ixzz2TCb7zRsN

Reference : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicotine

History and name

Nicotine is named after the tobacco plant Nicotiana tabacum, which in turn is named after the French ambassador in Portugal, Jean Nicot de Villemain, who sent tobacco and seeds to Paris in 1560, and who promoted their medicinal use. The tobacco and seeds were brought to ambassador Nicot from Brazil by Luis de Gois, a Portuguese colonist in So Paulo. Nicotine was first isolated from the tobacco plant in 1828 by physician Wilhelm Heinrich Posselt and chemist Karl Ludwig Reimann of Germany, who considered it a poison. Its chemical empirical formula was described by Melsens in 1843,] its structure was discovered by Adolf Pinner and Richard Wolffenstein in 1893and it was first synthesized by Am Pictet and A. Rotschy in 1904
Reference : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicotine

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From which plant nicotine is obtained?

Nicotiana tabacum, or cultivated tobacco, is a perennial herbaceous plant. It is found only in cultivation, where it is the most commonly grown of all plants in the Nicotiana genus, and its leaves are commercially grown in many countries to be processed into tobacco. It grows to heights between 1 to 2 metres. Research is ongoing into its ancestry among wild Nicotiana species, but it is believed to be a hybrid of Nicotiana sylvestris, Nicotiana tomentosiformis, and possibly Nicotiana otophora.[1]

Brief history
In their first voyage to the New World, Christopher Columbus and his expedition were introduced to a plant whose smoke was called tobacco by the natives of Hispaniola. In 1560, Jean Nicot de Villemain brought tobacco seeds and leaves as a "wonder drug" to the French court. In 1586 the botanist Jaques Dalechamps gave the plant the name of Herba nicotiana, which was also adopted by Linn. It was considered a decorative plant at first, then a panacea, before it became a common snuff and tobacco plant. Tobacco arrived in Africa at the beginning of the 17th century. The leaf extract was a popular pest control method up to the beginning of the 20th century. In 1851, the Belgian chemist Jean Stas was the first to prove the use of tobacco extract as a murder poison in the civilised world. The Belgian count Hippolyte Visart de Bocarm had poisoned his brother-in-law with tobacco leaf extract in order to acquire some urgently needed money. This was the first exact proof of alkaloids in forensic medicine

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Geographical distribution
N. tabacum is a native of tropical and subtropical America but it is now commercially cultivated worldwide. Other varieties are cultivated as ornamental plants or grow as a weed.

Habitat and ecology

N. tabacum is sensitive to temperature, air, ground humidity and the type of land. Temperatures of 2030 C (6886 F) are best for adequate growth; an atmospheric humidity of 80 to 85% and soil without a high level of nitrogen are also optimal.

Botanical description
Nicotiana tabacum Linn is a robust annual little branched herb up to 2.5 m (8.2 ft) high with large green leaves and long trumpet shaped white-pinkish flowers. All parts are sticky, covered with short viscid-glandular hairs, which exude a yellow secretion containing nicotine.

Leaves
Very varied in size, the lower leaves are the largest up to 60 cm (24 in) long, shortly stalked or unstalked, oblonged-elliptic, shortly acuminate at the apex, decurrent at the base, the following leaves decrease in size, the upper one sessile and smallest, oblong- lanceolate or elliptic.
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Flowers
In terminal, many flowered inflorescences, the tube 56 cm (2.02.4 in) long, 5 mm (0.20 in) in diameter, expanded in the lower third (calyx) and upper third (throat), lobes broadly triangular, white-pinkish with pale violet or carmine colored tips tube yellowish white; calyx with five narrowly triangular lobes which are 1.52 cm (0.590.79 in) long. A capsular ovoid or ellipsoid, surrounded by the persistent calyx and with a short apical beak, about 2 cm (0.79 in) long. Seeds are very numerous, very small, ovoid or kidney shaped, brown.

Part used
Every part of the plant except the seed contains nicotine, but the concentration is related to different factors such as species, type of land, culture and weather conditions. The concentration of nicotine increases with the age of the plant. Tobacco leaves contain 2 to 8% nicotine combined as malate or citrate. The distribution of the nicotine in the mature plant is widely variable: 64% of the total nicotine exists in the leaves, 18% in the stem, 13% in the root, and 5% in the flowers.

Phytochemicals
Tobacco contains the following phytochemicals: nicotine, anabasine (an alkaloid similar to the nicotine but less active), glucosides (tabacinine, tabacine), 2,3,6-trimethyl-1,4naphthoquinone, 2-methylquinone, 2-napthylamine, propionic acid, anatalline, anthalin, anethole, acrolein, anatabine, cembrene, choline, nicotelline, nicotianine, and pyrene.

Nutritional value
A protein of the WhiteBrown Complex subfamily[4] can be extracted from the leaves. It is an odourless, tasteless white powder and can be added to cereal grains, vegetables, soft drinks and other foods. It can be whipped like egg whites, liquefied or gelled and can take on the flavour and texture of a variety of foods. It is 99.5% protein, contains no salt, fat or cholesterol. It is currently being tested as a low calorie substitute for mayonnaise and whipped cream

Other uses
All parts of the plant contain nicotine, which can be extracted and used as an insecticide. The dried leaves can also be used; they remain effective for 6 months after drying. The juice of the leaves can be rubbed on the body as an insect repellent. The leaves can be dried and chewed as an intoxicant. The dried leaves are also used as snuff or are smoked. This is the main species that

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is used to make cigarettes, cigars, and other smokable tobacco preparations. A drying oil is obtained from the seed

Reference : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicotiana_tabacum

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Chapter 2: material required and method

materials required: Nicotine(required amount) Tap Water Water with tobacco(nicotine mixed) Small Plants of same species(same conditions) Pot Ruler Sticky notes Camera(to observe the changes)

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How to check how nicotine effects the plants?

o o o

To investigate the impact of nicotine on plant growth, it is important to procure healthy plants of the same type and size. One plant will be the control specimen. The other one will be the test subjects. The specimen should receive the same amount of sunlight. The plants should also receive the same amount of liquids although the type should be varied. The control plant should only receive water. With great care, dissolve nicotine gum in water. Then, each day water the plants with the same amount of liquid per pot observe the results for a few weeks, recording the measurements, and examine the impact of nicotine on plant growth.

Reference: http://www.ehow.com/info_8313265_nicotine-science-projects.html#ixzz2TCaEqH90

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Experiment
Abstract:
We are performing this experiment to see if nicotine affects how plants grow. We think that with adding nicotine, the plants will show different properties other than normal plants

PROCEDURE:
To start this experiment, we will gather our supplies and set up the two pots. Making sure each pot will have the same variables (amount of soil and sunlight). We will give them the same amount of water. Then add the nicotine. One plant will have just water with no nicotine making this plant the control. The other one will have nicotine mixed into the water . After giving each plant their water, we will keep track of their growth measuring each day and watering with the appropriate amounts of Nicotine to the plant every day. We will record the data in the chart below over an estimated time of one week . Keeping all variables the
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same beside the amount of nicotine in the plant water will show whether or not plants benefit from nicotine dosage. Reference: http://cellingscience.wikispaces.com/The+Effects+of+Nicotine+on+Plant+Grow

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CHAPTER 3: OBSERVATION AND DETAILS

Observations table: Plant with tap water: Day 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

height color Any other Observati on Plant with nicotine water: Day height color Any other Observati on
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Photographs PLANT WITH WATER:

DAY 1:

PLANT WITH NICOTINE:

DAY 2:

DAY 3:

DAY 4:

DAY 5:

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DAY 6:

DAY 7:

Limitations:
Some errors occurred as we did this experiment. One error was that we did not water the plants with the solution over the weekend or work a watering schedule around the weekend. Another error we made was that the drops of nicotine might not have been the same size and amount of solution. One solution is to measure the amount of solution instead of how many drops. The last error we made was that the solution may not have been homogeneous by just swirling it around in the graduated cylinder. The solution would be to use a stirrer to mix the solution well. If we use more nicotine in the water, then it will effect the plant. Page | 17

Chapter 4: Result

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Chapter:5 Discussion and effects

Discussion:
Studies on nicotine as an isolated substance have found it actually may have a positive effect on plant growth. (Garden, 2012) We think that the plants will grow taller with the nicotine. Nicotine was identified chemically in the nineteenth century. Nicotine is an addictive drug that is found mostly in cigarettes, cigars, and chewing snuff. We had the thought, what if the plant got addicted to the Nicotine? How would this effect the growth especially if it was taken away after the plant was addicted? Nicotine is composed of several chemicals that have strong effects on the human body together and can caused nicotine overdose. Is this also possible to happen to plants? Nicotine is composed of several chemicals that have strong effects on the human body together and can cause nicotine overdose. (Nicotine, 2012) Nicotine is an alkaloid produced in tobacco roots and transmitted to the leaves. It can also be used as a stimulant which we think will make the plant grow faster and taller. The experiment will
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take as long as it takes for the plants to grow so about two to four weeks. We will have four plants of the same type and plant them in the same soil and give them the same amount of water. When we give them fertilizer we will give one plant plain fertilizer with out any Nicotine making this our control plant. The other three plants will have different amounts of Nicotine in their fertilizer. We will let plants grow for three two to four weeks until one is out of the soil and then let them go longer and see which one gets taller. If we use nicotine in plant fertilizer, then the plant will grow taller and faster unlike other plants.

EFFECTS OF NICOTINE:
1) On plants:
Nicotine is a useful substance in the cultivation of garden plants. It occurs naturally in tobacco plants, but also in nightshades like tomatoes and potatoes. It is also used as a chemical spray during the production of other crops.

1. Insecticides

The biggest influence nicotine has on plant growth is as an insecticide. Plants that contain nicotine in their leaves naturally discourage insect predation. Flowering tobacco can be interspersed with other plants to discourage white flies. Nicotine works as a neurotoxin,
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disrupting muscle action in insects. Gardens cleared of insects with a nicotine tea or a commercial compound of nicotine sulfate will produce more abundantly.

2. Viruses
Cigarette use in greenhouses, nurseries and gardens can have devastating effects on plant health. This is not due directly to the nicotine, but to the tobacco it is carried in. Cigarette tobacco, even in its dried and packaged form, can transmit tobacco mosaic virus. This virus infects 150 different plant species, can live up to 50 years in a dry plant and can be transmitted from the hands of a smoker to the plants he is working with. There is no control except removing the infected plants as completely as possible to avoid spread. Tobacco mosaic virus stunts the plant and damages the fruit.
o

Cultivation
Nicotine is an alkaloid produced in tobacco roots and transmitted to the leaves. It has no known effect on the growth of the plant and doesn't affect the growth of other plants it is applied to. However, the presence of nicotine in tobacco plants has meant tobacco has been cultivated and hybridized worldwide for centuries. Because it has been a useful crop for those who extract nicotine from it, tobacco has survived and flourished as a plant species.
Ref.-http://www.ehow.com/facts_7286087_effect-nicotine-plant-growth.html#ixzz2UJcDJMkf

2) human beings:
Nicotine is the harmful, addictive substance found in tobacco products. When you smoke a cigarette, chew tobacco or otherwise ingest nicotine the effect are immediate: Nicotine travels through the body in the blood stream and heads straight for the brain, arriving in 7 to 15 seconds.

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 In the brain nicotine boosts the reward centre, releasing chemical that cause a pleasant, happy feeling. Adrenaline is then released increasing heart rate and blood pressure, and making breathing rapid and shallow. As, nicotine use continues these can damage heart, arteries, and lungs, increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and chronic lung diseases.

3) on organisms:
Respiratory
The American Lung Association indicates that cigarette smoke is responsible for 90 percent of deaths from lung cancer and 80 to 90 percent of deaths from Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder. The Surgeon General's Report on smoking indicates that exposure to cigarette smoke affects immune function in both mice and monkeys. It was also found that a decrease in immune function in humans leads to increased respiratory infections. The carbon monoxide inhaled with nicotine replaces some of the oxygen carried in the blood, which keeps the body from receiving the oxygen it needs.

Blood Sugar
The fight-or-flight responses initiated when nicotine first enters the body encourages it to release excess amounts of glucose into the blood. At the same time, nicotine prevents insulin from working to remove sugar from the blood. This results in periods of hyperglycemia each time nicotine products are used. This can be especially dangerous in those suffering from diabetes.

Cardiovascular
When nicotine first enters the body, the body releases adrenaline. Adrenaline encourages the body's fight-or-flight responses, leading to increased heart rate. It also raises the blood pressure by causing the heart to pump more blood to the body while simultaneously narrowing the blood vessels. Nicotine works in conjunction with carbon monoxide to damage arterial lining, eventually causing narrowing of the arteries. This increases a user's risk of heart disease
Reference: http://www.livestrong.com/article/238924-effects-of-nicotine-on-organisms/#ixzz2UJmMzogI

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Chapter 6:Reference

Garden Guides. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2012. <http://www.gardenguides.com/132045-effectnicotine-plant-growth.html

Nicotine Facts. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2012. <http://www.nicotinefacts.org/>.

. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2012. <http://elibrary.bigchalk.com/elibweb/elib/do/search>

Ehow. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Dec. 2012. <http://www.ehow.com/facts_7286087_effectnicotine-plant-growth.html>.

Google. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Dec. 2012. <https://www.google.com/webhp?hl=en&tab=ww>.

Noodle Tools. N.p., n.d. Web. 31 Dec. 2012. <http://www.noodletools.com/noodlebib/cite.php?ADD=Web%20Site>.

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REMARKS

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About ficus plant

The enduringly popular ficus plants belong to the fig genus. Although only a few are seen in cultivation, there are hundreds of species of ficus. They are native throughout the tropics, including Asia, America and Africa. These are extremely important plants, as decorative plants, food plants and even religious symbols. The famous Bodhi tree under which Buddha achieved enlightenment was a Ficus religiosa. In their native habitats, ficus are often landscape trees with hanging and buttressed roots and a magnificent crown. In the home, ficus are beautiful specimen plants that can provide many years of lush foliage.

Growing Conditions:

Light: Bright light, but only acclimated plants can handle direct sun. Ficus appreciate being moved outside in summer, but do not place in direct sunlight. Water: Water evenly throughout the summer and reduce watering in the winter. In dry homes, provide plenty of ambient moisture by misting often. Do not let the rootball dry out. Temperature: Warm in summer. Do not allow below 55F in winter or expose to cold drafts. Soil: Rich, humusy and well-drained soil. Fertilizer: Feed with slow-release pellets in the beginning of the growing season.

Propagation:

Ficus can be rooted from tip cuttings with rooting hormone. Use only non-woody stems as cuttings. For larger plants, air laying is the preferred method.

Repotting:

A healthy ficus will rapidly outgrow both its pot and your house. Repot only every other year to slow growth and keep the plant a manageable size. When repotting, always use high-quality potting soil.

Ficus Varieties:

There are two types of ficus grown inside: trailing and tree types. This article is concerned with tree ficus, including:

F. benajmina. The F. benjamina has narrow glossy green leaves and grows into a small shrub or tree. This plant is less tolerant of cold and shade than the Rubber Tree. Variegated varieties include F. benjamina variegata and F. benjamina Starlight.
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F. elastica. The Rubber Tree has large, thick glossy leaves. Varieties include the F. elastica robusta with wide, large leaves and the F. elastica decora. F. lyrata. The Fiddle Leaf Fig has large, violin-shaped leaves up to 18 inches long.
Grower's Tips:

Many people experience frustration at the hands of ficus plants. They are prone to leaf drop in drafty, cold conditions, and they don't like to be moved. Ficus are also vulnerable to mites, mealy bugs, white flies and aphids. As tropical plants, they absolutely require adequate light, warmth and humidity to look their best. On the other hand, few plants are quite as flexible as the ficus. F. benjamina is a favorite among bonsai growers and they can be braided or shaped. If your ficus is overgrowing its spot, don't be afraid to trim it back. New leaves will quickly sprout. Ficus tend toward leginess after a few years.

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