The Effects of Coenzyme Q10, Beta-Carotene and Garlic

on "Plant Cancer" Bacterium

Malorie Simons, RHS ‘07

 My experiment tested the possible effects of Coenzyme Q10, beta-carotene and garlic on "plant cancer" agrobacterium tumafaciens. Twenty-four sunflowers were grown, six for each supplement including the control. These plants were inoculated with the bacteria and given the proper dosages of their allocated supplement. The results demonstrated that plants given garlic and beta-carotene  had the smallest growth of tumors with an average increase of only 1.5 mm and 1.7 mm, respectively.  An ANOVA test showed great significance with a p-value of .006. However, the plants given the CoQ10 looked "healthier" and had no fatalities.  Their leaves were only slightly discolored where as the others were brown or shriveled.