1. Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Copyright 2011
Seeds of Germination
Introduction to Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Unit 5 Lesson 5.2 All About Plants
Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Copyright 2011

2. Introduction to Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Seeds of Germination
Introduction to Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Unit 5 Lesson 5.2 All About Plants
Introduction to Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Seeds of Germination
Unit 5 – Lesson 5.2 All About Plants
Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Copyright 2011

3. Importance of Seeds New plant propagation
Seeds of Germination
Introduction to Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Unit 5 Lesson 5.2 All About Plants
Importance of Seeds
New plant propagation
Protection of young plant embryo
Nourishment for new plant
Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Copyright 2011

4. Seed Formation When an egg is fertilized in the ovule by pollen:
Seeds of Germination
Introduction to Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Unit 5 Lesson 5.2 All About Plants
Seed Formation
When an egg is fertilized in the ovule by pollen:
The egg develops into a seed
Germination of a seed leads to a new plant
Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Copyright 2011

5. Germination Sprouting of a seed, and beginning of plant growth
Seeds of Germination
Introduction to Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Unit 5 Lesson 5.2 All About Plants
Germination
Sprouting of a seed, and beginning of plant growth
Germination as defined by Herren & Donahue, 2000.
Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Copyright 2011

6. Seeds of Germination
Introduction to Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Unit 5 Lesson 5.2 All About Plants
Germination Rate
The number of seeds of a particular seed lot that are likely to germinate.
Germination rate defined.
Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Copyright 2011

7. The Critical Factors for Germination
Seeds of Germination
Introduction to Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Unit 5 Lesson 5.2 All About Plants
The Critical Factors for Germination
Water
Temperature
Oxygen
Light
Seeds need water to soften the seed coat that protected the embryo during dormancy. Water is necessary for cell growth. Cells enlarge and multiply very rapidly during germination. Water is also essential for translocation of nutrients throughout the embryonic tissues.
Plants have specific temperature ranges for optimal germination.
Everything living needs oxygen, even seeds. A common problem in germination is too much water that saturates the seed depriving oxygen to the embryo.
A few species require their seeds to be exposed to light for a short duration of time prior to germinating. Lettuce is one plant that needs light. You will be testing beans which do not need light.
In the following experiment, Activity Bean Sprouts, you will be conducting an experiment to determine the influence of water and temperature on the rate of germination of bean seeds.
Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Copyright 2011

8. Seeds of Germination
Introduction to Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources
Unit 5 Lesson 5.2 All About Plants
References
Herren, R. V., & Donahue, R. L. (2000). Delmar’s agriscience dictionary with searchable CD-ROM. Albany, NY: Delmar.
Parker, R. (2010). Plant and soil science: Fundamentals and applications. Clifton Park, NY: Delmar.
Schooley, J. (1997). Introduction to botany. Albany, NY: Delmar Publishers.
Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Copyright 2011