1. …baby plants waiting to emerge
Seeds
…baby plants waiting to emerge

3. What are seeds? seeds are plant embryos with stored foods
seeds are formed when plant pollen (sperm) fertilizes the egg, found in the ovule of the plant

5. Seeds
The biological function of seeds is for the propagation of the species

6. Seeds are found inside the fruit of the plant.

7. Seed vocabulary
germination – when the plant embryo/seed starts to grow
seed dispersal – how seeds get around
seed dormancy – a period of time before the seed will germinate
viability – time period in which seeds can be expected to germinate

8. Testa a.k.a. Seed Coat
the seed coat is the protective covering of the seed
scarification “scars” the seed coat so the germination of the seed is encouraged
scarification methods include creating cracks or nicks, freezing/thawing, or dipping the seed in acid

11. Cotyledons
cotyledons are the first small leaves of the plant, A.K.A. “seed leaves”
the cotyledons absorb or store food
provide energy before the plant emerges from under the soil
cotyledons can hold the endosperm, the food storage tissue of the seed

12. Epicotyl
the small leafy structure inside the seed

13. Hypocotyl
the thicker section of the embryo

14. Radicle
the lower end of the hypocotyl that becomes the plant’s primary root

18. Amazing seeds… To function in propagation, seeds must be alive
Seeds respire, though slowly
consume O2, produce CO2 and H2O
Seeds have a finite lifespan
they cannot be stored indefinitely

19. How does a seed grow up to be a plant?
Germination, which requires
Water - for imbibition (taking up of fluid, resulting in swelling)
Oxygen - for cellular respiration
Suitable temperature

20. Seeds grow into plants…
Outcome of successful germination is a seedling capable of independent growth
that independent growth continues with photosynthesis because the energy found in the cotyledon has been used up