To germinate means to grow from a seed to a young plant. A seed will germinate when the temperature is
right and the soil is the right condition.
1. Based on what you observed in the Seed Growth
activity, what are some common patterns in
germination
2. How does the size and shape of a plant change as it
a seed?

Explanation:

What is Seed Germination?

Seed germination may be defined as the fundamental process by which different plant species grow from a single seed into a plant. This process influences both crop yield and quality.

A common example of seed germination is the sprouting of a seedling from a seed of an angiosperm or gymnosperm.

Also, read: Formation and Dispersal of Seeds

The Process of Seed Germination

The complete process of seed germination is carried out in the following steps:

Process of Seed Germination

During the beginning stage of the germination, the seeds take up water rapidly and this results in swelling and softening of the seed coat at an optimum temperature. This stage is referred to as an Imbibition. It starts the growth process by activation of enzymes. The seed activates its internal physiology and starts to respire and produce proteins and metabolizes the stored food. This is a lag phase of the seed germination.

By rupturing of the seed coat, radicle emerges to form a primary root. The seed starts absorbing underground water. After the emerging of the radicle and the plumule, shoot starts growing upwards.

In the final stage of seed germination, the cell of the seeds become metabolically active, elongate and divide to give rise to the seedling.

Also Read Parts of a Seed.

Conditions Necessary for Seed Germination

Here are some important requirements which are essential for a seed to germinate into a seedling and to a plant.

Water: It is extremely necessary for the germination of seeds. Some seeds are extremely dry and need to take a considerable amount of water, relative to the dry weight of the seed. Water plays an important role in seed germination. It helps by providing necessary hydration for the vital activities of protoplasm, provides dissolved oxygen for the growing embryo, softens the seed coats and increases the seed permeability. It also helps in the rupturing of seed and also converts the insoluble food into soluble form for its translocation to the embryo.

Oxygen: It is an important and essential source of energy required for seed growth. It is required by the germinating seed for the metabolism and is used as a part of aerobic respiration until it manages to grow green leaves of its own. Oxygen can be found in the pores of soil particles, but if the seed is buried too deep it will be deprived of this oxygen.

Temperature: For a seed to germinate, it requires a moderate temperature of around 25-30°C. Quite obviously different seeds require different optimum temperatures. There are some seeds which require special requirements either lower or higher temperature between 5 to 40°C.

Light or darkness: This can act as an environmental trigger. Many seeds do not germinate until sunlight falls on them.

The process of seed germination triggers under the above mentioned favourable conditions. The seeds undergo rapid expansion and growth of the embryo and subsequently rupturing the covering layers and emergence of the radicle. This radicle emergence is considered the completion of germination.

Explore more: Significance of Seeds and Fruits Formation

Factors Affecting Seed Germination

There are some major factors that affect seed germination. These include:

External Factors

Water: The poor or additional supply of water affects the seed germination.

Temperature: This affects the growth rate as well as the metabolism of the seed.

Oxygen: Germinating seeds respire vigorously and release the energy required for their growth. Therefore, deficiency of oxygen affects the seed germination.

In certain cases, a temperature below the moderate level slows down the seed germination and promotes fungal growth. In some cases, the germination stops at the temperature above the moderate level.

Internal Factors

Seed Dormancy

This is a condition in which the seeds are prevented from germinating even under favourable conditions.

During seed dormancy:

The seed coat, which is resistant to water and gases, restrict water-uptake and oxygen exchange.

The seeds with undeveloped or immature embryo do not germinate.

Certain seeds contain plant growth regulators, which inhibit seed germination.

Some seeds require more time for their germination.

To learn more about the seed, its parts, seed germination, its process, factors affecting seed germinations and any other related topics visit BYJU’S Biology

hi there,

on december 11, 2001, china officially became the 143rd member of the

world trade organization (wto) in the culmination of a negotiation

process which began in 1986. economists have long been debating the

global effects of china's accession to the wto, and as china becomes

fully integrated into the organization over the next several years,

the accuracy of their predictions will be tested.

one of the biggest residual effects of china's entry to the wto,

according to economists, will be the relocation of manufacturing and

distribution centers to china. due to its cheap labor, cheap

industrial land, and educated workforce, china is an ideal production

centre for businesses based in outside countries. this will likely

result in a twofold impact – more jobs will be available in china,

while countries like india, which have historically offered cheap

labor, will suffer. taiwan and malaysia's technology industries are

already suffering as companies like dell computers move production to

china, and while foreign investment soars in china, other asian

countries suffer. in addition, mexico and the caribbean will lose

thousands of garment manufacturing jobs as the u.s. lifts restraints

on chinese textile imports.

while the impact on southeast asia may be negative, the western world

may benefit. while some suggest china's open borders will result in

increased competition and a decreased employment rate for the western

world, western countries will benefit from access to china's highly

developed electronics and industry sectors. with duties and quotas

slashed, and restrictions lifted, multinationals will benefit by

setting up distribution centers without the need for chinese

middlemen. in addition, it's expected that china will import massive

amounts of food products, machinery and vehicles from the u.s., japan,

hong kong, taiwan, singapore and south korea, thus providing

significant boosts to these countries' economies.

in conclusion, it seems that while western countries may benefit from

china's accession to the wto, there's the potential that asian and

south american countries may feel the pinch of free trade as china

moves to a global economy.