The ecological processes that my hypothesis touches on are floral organ development, photosynthesis, and growth regulatory factors that play a role in organ growth. A big aspect of my research is how environmental conditions play a role in the growth of T. Officinale, especially how sunlight affects the growth of its floral organs. Sunlight is needed for photosynthesis, which is how plants get the nutrients they need, but plants differ in the amount of sunlight they need. During my literature research, I’ve found mention of light-harvesting complex stress-related (LHCSR) which are proteins that aid in the protection of plants from too much sunlight. LHCSR will turn some of the energy from the sun into heat to protect the plant from damage. I haven’t found any research specifically in relation to T. Officinale but since I hypothesize that T. Officinale grows better under direct sunlight rather than shade, T. Officinale must have these LHCSR to protect against too much sunlight.
Keywords: T. Officinale, floral development, photosynthesis