EXPERIMENT 10

PLANT GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT: Seed Germination

A seed is a plant embryo which contains within itself virtually all the materials and energy
to start a new plant. Germination of seeds is the resumption of growth. It is a process governed
by environmental factors (such as light, availability of water, soil temperature, and oxygen
levels) and genes. This complex physiological process is triggered by the imbibition or the
uptake of water.
Seeds have three major parts: dormant embryo, storage tissue, and the seed coat. The
Dormant Embryo is the essential living part of the seed which consists of a radicle (gives rise
to the root), and a plumule (gives rise to young shoot). The part containing these two is called
the hypocotyl. Storage Tissue is the reserve of food which supplies the embryo and the
growing plant until it is able to make its own food. The storage tissue may be in the cotyledons
or in a part of the seed called the endosperm. Seed Coat, also known as testa, is the tough
protective outer covering of the seed. It often has outgrowths which help in the dispersal of the
seed.
The specimen under study is Corn Grain/Seed (Zea mays), a representative of the
monocots (having only one cotyledon/seed leaf) and of the endospermous/ albuminous seeds
(having endosperm as the storage tissue).

OBJECTIVES:
The experiment concerns with the analysis of the germination process of Zea mays.
Specifically, the study aims to:
• Determine the different plant organs of a germinating corn grain (Zea mays).
• Establish the phasic changes that the corn grain (Zea mays) undergoes in the process of
germination

MATERIALS
• corn grains (Zea mays)
• 1% clorox
• Rectangular pan with cover

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METHODOLOGY
The corn grains were first rinsed with 1% Clorox, and then were allowed to germinate
along the side of the pan. For the succeeding days, stages of germination depicting
morphological changes were identified.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS:

During germination process, primary root first emerges through seed coat. It is then
followed by hypocotyl emergence. As it grows up, it takes the shape of hairpin, known as
hypocotyl arch.

Pedicel or flower stalk

The external parts of the corn grain (monocot) are the pedicel, embryo, seed coat and the
pericarp.
• The pedicel is the floral unit.
• The embryo is the part that develops into a new plant.
• The seed coat protects the embryo from injury and prevents it from drying.
• The pericarp is the part that encloses the seed.

GUIDE QUESTIONS
Q: What is the term for water intake by a germinating seed?
A: The process is called IMBIBITION. It initiates germination of the seed by the uptake of water.
Imbibition causes a swelling of the seed which generates substantial pressure (imbibition
pressure) which will further lead to the rupture of the testa, thus permitting the embryo to
emerge.

Q: Which part of the embryo emerged first during seed germination?

A: Radicle (embryonic root) first emerges from the seed coat. Radicle emergence occurs
through a combination of cell enlargement within the radicle itself and imbibition pressures
developed within the seed. This mechanism is advantageous since it allows the plant to make
contact with water and nutrient salts required to support further growth of the young seedling.

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CONCLUSION
Seed germination begins with the imbibition of water to hydrate the relatively dry seed
tissues. This is followed by radicle emergence and elongation of the shoot which leads to the
establishment of a young seedling.
The driving force for germination is therefore the turgor changes that are due to the
imbibition pressures within the seed tissues.

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