While one might think to just use the simple, practical solution of buying a light bulb, or using the sun, I've decided to investigate the possibly of growing plants by feeding plants carbohydrates or other metabolize-able substances - since I don't actually have any reason to grow plants in the first place, I thought why not try something much more difficult? Also - it would allow me to grow plants inside more effectively with out the need for a decent light set-up, which I cannot afford.

I've read in a few places that some plants can benefit by being watered with a sugar solution. The idea is obvious, that the sugar present will be used by the plant, and the plant will not need to do as much photosynthesis, and will be able to grow faster. Despite how useful this might be, I haven't read of any discoveries to grow plants with out lights, or having great success with it. Obviously there are also a lot of problems with it. The problems I see are being:

• Osmotic Pressure -- if the solution of the sugar, or other substance is to concentrated, it will obviously cause the plant cells to go flacid, and probably kill it.
• Bacterial/Fungi problems -- this is likely to cause root rot, and other problems

While I am 80% sure I just pulled this out of thin air, it seems to me that glycerol is more resistant to fermentation and metabolism by various bacteria and fungi as compared to carbohydrates such as sucrose, glucose, etc. I guess this is sort of a link that gives me reason to believe a 5% solution of glycerol could have anti-bacterial affects...

However, at a concentration of 5%, it greatly inhibited their growth and cellulolytic activity.

-- http://www.springerlink.com/content/nw6pl58946258188/

at 5% concentration, I think it is likely the plant would die.

Out of curiosity, I just recently I prepared a very dilute solution of a fertilizer, added it to two pint jars, and then labeled and added a small amount (~10ml or so) glycerol of an unknown concentration (had been sitting out for a while) to one of the pint jars. I placed two very similiar freshly cut, easily rooted plants starts from a mother plant in the two pint jars, and placed them in the closet.  I am hoping, by watching when each plant dies, or grows fastest that this will allow me to tell if the plants can effectively utilize the glycerol as a fuel. If this is possible, I will then attempt to find out how this would be useful. Perhaps if bacteria and mold isn't a problem, like I think it will be - some amazing hydroponics could be done with little need for light. Obviously with out light, the plants will elongate and turn a yellowish color.

Anyways -- I was wondering if any of you have had similiar ideas, have references to decent experiments about adding various types of carbohydrates or other fuels to soil or solutions for increased plant growth or to allow them to live in the dark.

I was also thinking they might be able to live in a dilute acetic or citric acid solution, as they play a roll in the metabolism of glucose, and lipids. Obviously pH would be a problem here, though. Perhaps ethanol could be used as well, in dilute solutions.

In earlier experiments, Cossins and Turner (5, 7)
showed that in a variety of germinating seedlings,
previously accumulated ethanol was consumed by
the tissues, and by providing ethanol-2-C14 (6) to
pea cotyledons they were able to show extensive
conversion to a variety of products, including acetaldehyde,
acids of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and
amino acids.
In this investigation,

--- http://www.plantphysiol.org/cgi/reprint/38/4/375.pdf


 

3199). These last observations strongly suggest that glycerol
prevented the triggering of autophagy inducedb y
sucrose starvation in sycamore cells

and

Under these conditions,
the flow of carbon to drive cell respiration derived almost
exclusively from glycerol, andt his polyalcohol was
not used as a source of carbon skeletons for biosynthesis.

-- http://www.jbc.org/content/269/34/21420.full.pdf

as the last link points out, the glycerol does not contribute to the plants structure, and so apparently some sugar is going to be needed. :/

Know of any effective ways to "feed" a plant using a carbohydrate of some sort?

If plants can do glucogenesis with glycerol, I don't see why it wouldn't be able to be put into the structure of the plant, however. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/6b/Gluconeogenesis.png

Perhaps the plant bits they had tested on just didn't want to grow at the time?

very interesting vesp

this could make a great community experiment

im gonna do some more reading and have a bit of a play around my self i think

keep us posted on your progress

T8ER out

yes it is very intreging.

check this out i havent had a chance to read all of it as yet

its my bday today and i have people showing up so as soon as i get a chance ill get into it my self

hxxp://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9B0DEED9103DEE32A25750C2A9659C946397D6CF

I second that this is indeed interesting/ I lack electronics, so need to dumb it down abit. I do in fact have carbon fiber cloth, that may be useful, as it conducts, and is soft and non evasive. I will go over the information. Ive always had an interest regarding the affect that sound waves, energy associated, with plants, I will go over what's been stated. I am also aware that plants, apart from the delivery system of nutrients, have similiar biochemical pathways with respect to glucose, yet storage into starch and not glycogen, but overal the similarities are very much the same. Perhaps obtaining a biochem metabolism book could be advantagieous. Its extraordinary. The complexity. I heard in fact that bacteria, can produce all their requirements from the hexose carbohydrate molecule, commonly temed glucose. EVeRYTHING IT NEEDS> Anyway, it is pleasing to see exploriation at this site.
I myself, saw a connection between molecules that make up muscles fibres, namely myosin, and actin, and how with phosphorylastion and ATP associated - the molecules bind, and slide pass one another thus causing tension, and the ability for muscle to contract, to hold such contraction. Anyway, what surprised me, was that when we cut our selves, platelets amongst other cells are attracted to the sight, and trigger these same molecules to be associated with what we call commonly  a scab. This allows this clot, this scab to stretch, which makes sense, due to movement of our physical selfs, and if the ability to stretch was not their, then the wound would re-open, every time we stretched that area of our bodies. Anyway, I saw the connection between, :What if these molecules were placed in wrinkles, and lines on the face. Would these molecules diffuse into the epethial layer of the skin. Anyway, part of my thinking, was to do some research on this area, and I found private and expensive treatments of this sort of thing, ie platelet therapies. Sort of interesting, as well as its potential for promoting skin grafts and burn treatments. I know this is not in line with VESPS thread, but just thought I'd share it nonetheless.
I very much am interested in pushing what we know of plant growth/survival in the direction of an alternative energy source. Just got to get my head aournd it more. Thanks for sharing this stuff Vesp. I LoVE this stuff.