Overlay - Heat release due to respiration in germinating seeds

Specimen Results

		Temperature / °C
Day and time	Elapsed Time from start of experiment / hours	Room i.e. laboratory	Vacuum Flask containing live peas	Vacuum Flask containing boiled peas	Vacuum Flask containing peas in strong disinfectant
day 0	0	15	15	16	15
day 1	24	16	17	16	16
day 2	48	15	19	15	16
day 3	72	17	23	17	16
day 4	96	16	25	17	16
day 5	120	18	27	19	18
day 6	144	17	29	23	17

These data show that the temperature rises quite reliably in the living germinating seeds, but not in the others. At least, there is often a rise in the boiled section, but delayed by several days. This is usually caused by bacterial growth on the dead peas, as can be confirmed by a terrible pong when these are emptied out. Still, bacterial respiration also releases heat, so all is not lost!