This stock represents the standard form and performance for Fast Plants. With a short life cycle of 35-40 days from sowing seed to harvesting seed, these plants can be used to investigate a variety of topics in plant biology. The standard stock was selected for uniformity in days to flowering (14) under ideal growing conditions (see the Spiral of Life poster). This stock serves well for comparison with other Fast Plants.

7 days old	16 days old

Notes on Genetics
This stock represents the goals of selection (primarily for reduced days to flowering) on the original base population from which all Fast Plants were derived. The stock is relatively homogeneous and free of mutant phenotypes so it can serve as the "wildtype" for most experiments.

Tips for the Grower
See Growing Instructions. This stock has been selected to perform under the ideal Fast Plants growing conditions. Minimal experience with growing Fast Plants is required.

Ideas for Investigations
Life cycle studies- Follow the life cycle of Fast Plants, examining germination, seedling emergence, leaf development and growth, flowering, pollination and fertilization, seed production, and sensescence.

Environmental studies - Investigate the effects of changes in environmental conditions on the growth and development of these plants. Change the nutrition, change the temperature, change the photoperiod, change plant density, change anything! Why is it important to change only one variable at a time? Do students need control plants for comparison?

Comparative morphology - Compare the appearance of standard plants to other stocks like petite, rosette, and yellow-green. Why is there such diversity in Fast Plants?

Physiology - Experiment with the basics of plant physiology, including photo- and geotropisms. Why do plants grow "up"?

Plant pathology - Explore the interaction of Fast Plants and plant pathogens by introducing a disease organism into your growing systems.