Germination of Seed

Germination of Seed:

For the germination of seeds, they must arrive at a suitable location and be there at a time favorable for germination and growth.

Seed germination is a process by which a seed embryo develops into a seeding. During germination, embryo soaks up water which causes it to swell, splitting the seed coat. Root is the first structure that emerges from the radical present in seed. It grows rapidly and absorbs water and nutrients from soil. In the next phase, plumule develops into tiny shoot which elongates and comes out of soil.

On the basis of the elongation of hypocotyls and epicotyls, there are two types of germination. In apogeal germination, the hypocotyls elongate and form a hook, pulling the cotyledons above ground. Beans, cotton and papaya are the examples of seeds that germinate this way. In hypogeal germination, the epicotyls elongate and form the hook. In this type of germination, the cotyledons stay underground. Pea, maize and coconut germinate this way.