Karishma Post #8

The most variation present in the Brassica Oleracea plants lies in the leaves. Among all the plants, the size and shape vary. Some leaves are wider while some are longer. The biggest extreme in variation is the shape. While some of the leaves are curled up, the others are flat.

This is Leaf #1. It is 3.5 inches (88.9 mm) wide

This is leaf #2. It is 4.5 in (114.3 mm) wide

This is leaf #3. It is 3.2 inches (81.28 mm) wide.

This is leaf #4. It is 2.25 inches (57.15 mm) wide

This is leaf #5. It is 3.1 inches (78.74 mm) wide.

This is leaf #6. It is 7 inches (117.8 mm) wide

 

	Width in Inches	Width in mm	Width (mm): Average Width
Leaf #1	3.5	88.9	88.9 : 89.7
Leaf #2	4.5	114.3	114.3 : 89.7
Leaf #3	3.2	81.28	81.28 : 89.7
Leaf #4	2.25	57.15	57.15 : 89.7
Leaf #5	3.1	78.74	78.74 : 89.7
Leaf #6	7	117.8	117.8 : 89.7

These pictures show the different sizes and shapes of each plant. While some are wider, others are longer. Therefore, the biggest variation among the plants is exhibited in the shape and size of the leaves. 

There is so much variability in the different Brassica Oleracea plants due to the natural variation that occurs. This variation occurs because different traits are passed down from parent to offspring through descent with modification. To add to the variability, some of the genes that are passed down have been mutated, or altered, therefore producing a different trait. In instances where humans favor a certain trait, they will attempt to increase the allele frequency for that specific trait by selective breeding or artificial selection. By doing so, they are breeding plants to have desirable traits.

The reproductive organs in the Brassica Oleracea are consistently the same or similar among all plants of the species. The carpel is the female reproductive organ and the stamen is the male reproductive organ. The carpel is the entirety of all the female system including the stigma, style, and ovary. It is located in the center of the flower. The stamen surrounds the carpel and contains the anthers and filaments. These are probably consistently the same because they are the same species and need to be able to interbreed. If their reproductive organs varied, the species would suffer from manual isolation.

The following shows different flowers and their reproductive system:

Also, all flowers exhibit the same color petals. They do have slight variations but for the most part, they are the same color. Some petals are a little more lightly tinted than others.

Here are petals from multiple different flowers. 

In order to naturally alter the appearances of either the reproductive organs or the flower petals, a breeder would have to isolate this species with another species that exhibits the desired trait. When these plants reproduce, the offspring would have both alleles for the different traits. When codominance or incomplete dominance occurs, both traits would be present in the offspring.