Vitamin C detection - (Mar/14/2012 )

Hi,

I'm in high school and I take part in a biology competition. I have to make an experiment and I thought of detecting the content of vitamin C in different circumstances in Malpighia punicifolia/glabra. Do you know any way to detect it? I would prefer some house conditions methods of course, with substances bought in chemist's or somewhere, but if it is not possible, I would be interested in every way of checking it.

I also have some other questions: do you know if viamin C is absorbed by plants with its roots? Or in any other way?

I will appreciate every advice and help.

sigma-aldrich sells test sticks for ascorbic acid (vitamin c):

quantofix test sticks