Question

4) Mackenzie’s favorite flower is the hydrangea. She plants a large hydrangea bush in her yard and enjoys the big purple blossoms. Her sister, Anna, would like some hydrangeas for her yard as well, so they transplant a small portion of the large bush to Anna’s yard. Anna is surprised when, the first time the plant in her yard blooms, the blossoms are pink instead of purple. If the genotype of this plant has not changed, what might have influenced a change in the phenotype?

Answer 1

Color of hydrangea is affected by the type of soil in which they are planted.

So, acidic soil, with a pH lower than 6.0, yields blue or lavender-blue hydrangea blooms whereas alkaline soil, with a pH above 7.0, promotes pinks and reds and a pH between 6 and 7, the blooms turn purple or bluish-pink.

So, Mackenzie was having purple color because the pH of her soil was between 6-7.

Anna was having pink color because the pH of her soil was above 7.

So, nothing changed in the genotype only the pH of the soil changed.