Seed germination

After fertilisation, seeds need to be removed from the plant and grow elsewhere so they are not in direct competition for resources such as minerals, water, sunlight etc. Therefore there needs to be an effective dispersal method of the seeds.

1. Through fruit. An animal may eat the fruit and the seed, inside, is resistant to the digestive juices hence it passes out through faeces.
2. Some seeds have small hooks which stick to the fur of animals.
3. Other seeds are very light so that they can be carried by the wind.

Germination is the process by which a plant emerges from the seed and begins growth. There are various conditions required for this to happen at a good rate:

1. Air supply
2. Water supply
3. Correct temperature to ensure the area is suitable for growth.

The food store in a seed is large. It is called the cotyledon. It contains starch which is a store of glucose. The glucose is utilised in respiration which enables mitosis to occur. [mitosis is the division of cells].This continues until the plant is large enough to start producing glucose from photosynthesis.

The embryo is where the cells of the seed are situated. These multiply through mitosis hence the seed will grow.

The testa is the seed coat. Water causes the testa to split which enables the radicle to grow downwards to form roots and the plumule to grow upwards to form the plant.