Question

For a seed to germinate, the dormancy period will need to be broken by
A. Warmth
B. Water
C. Air
D. Both A and B

Answer 1

Hint: The seed dormancy is a condition in which a seed is not able to germinate even if it encounters favourable conditions. The dormancy period is important because it has many roles in the growth and development of the plant.

Complete step by step answer:
The seed consists of seed coats that are hard in nature. It protects the growing embryo inside it and has an important role in seed dormancy. When a seed enters dormancy, many changes occur. The total metabolic activity of seeds decreases and it loses water content. The dormancy period may be days to years. When the seed breaks dormancy, the hard seed coat breaks and grows to form a new plant. There are several methods to break the dormancy of seeds. Seed can exit the dormant stage on its own and can start growing. It is also possible to break seed dormancy by certain methods. The main reason that a seed remains dormant is due to the hard impermeable seed coat. We can make the seed coat permeable to water and moisture by breaking the seed coat.
We can also break dormancy by the application of plant growth hormones. By giving exposure of warmth and moisture, we can break dormancy and allow the hard seed coat to break.
Hence the correct option is D.

Note: The ethylene is an example of a plant growth regulator which is used for breaking seed and bud dormancy. It is a gaseous regulator and is naturally synthesized in plants in tissues undergoing senescence and ripening fruits. Abscisic acid helps to induce dormancy.