Mysterious Phenomenon of Green Banana Curving Upwards

Bananas are one of the most commonly eaten fruits in the world, but have you ever wondered why are bananas curved?

As bananas grow from their flowers, they grow bigger and heavier. Instead of growing towards the ground, the bananas turn and grow upwards, towards the sun. This process is called negative geotropism, a tendency of fruits to grow in the opposite direction of gravity.

Why do bananas grow upwards? If you noticed, unripe bananas are green in colour and they contain lots of chlorophyll! Just like leaves, unripe banana traps light to make food. Hence, the unripe bananas will grow upwards to reach for more sunlight for photosynthesis.

Let’s recall… what is photosynthesis?

Photosynthesis is a process where water and carbon dioxide are used by the plant to make food (sugar) and release oxygen.

For photosynthesis occur, chlorophyll must be present. Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in chloroplasts that traps light energy. Chloroplasts in the cell then converts the light energy into chemical potential energy as it makes food from carbon dioxide and water.

Let’s Analyse PSLE 2018 Question 29 (Real-Life Photosynthesis Application Question)

Question: Unripe bananas are green and contain chlorophyll. (PSLE 2018 Q29)

(a) Bananas curve upwards when growing. Suggest a reason why bananas grow upwards.

Answer:

Unripe bananas contain chlorophyll, hence they can trap sunlight to make food. The bananas curve upwards to reach for more sunlight.

(b) Ripe bananas are yellow and give out gas X. Priya wants to investigate whether gas X will help unripe bananas to ripen more quickly.

She only has the items below. She may use some or all of them.

Priya used two identical clear containers for her investigation. Which item(s) should she put inside the container for each set-up?

Answer:

Experimental set-up: 1 ripe banana and 1 unripe banana

Control set-up: 1 unripe banana

Fun fact!

Gas X is ethylene gas which is produced as a banana ripens. Ethylene gas caused the breaking down of chlorophyll, hence the banana turns from green to yellow.

Want to know how your child can tackle these kind of Photosynthesis Application Questions effortlessly?

The phenomenon of green bananas curving upwards may seem mysterious at first glance, but it’s actually a fascinating example of how plants respond to light and gravity during the process of photosynthesis. This isn’t just about bananas—it’s about understanding how plants work in real life.

At our classes, we go beyond textbook knowledge and delve into real-life applications like these. We believe in equipping our students with a deeper understanding of the concepts they learn, so they’re prepared to tackle any question that comes their way, whether it’s in the classroom or on a standardized test like the PSLE.

By exposing them to diverse and practical applications of their learning, we empower our students to think critically and apply their knowledge in meaningful ways. So, the next time they encounter a question about green bananas or any other real-life scenario, they’ll be ready to rise to the challenge.

So, if you want your child to learn more than just what’s in the books, come join us! Contact us at 9616 0312 and let’s explore together and make learning fun!

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