Question

In albuminous seeds, food is stored in ……… and in exalbuminous seeds, food is stored in ………..
A) Endosperm, cotyledons
B) Cotyledons, cotyledons
C) Cotyledons, endosperm
D) Endosperm, endosperm

Answer 1

Hint: A seed is the ripened ovule of gymnosperms or angiosperms plants. A seed contains an embryo from which a new plant will germinate under normal conditions. They also usually contain a supply of stored food which is wrapped in the seed coat or testa. Orchids seeds have immature embryos and there are no significant food reserves. They are myco-heterotrophs, depending on the mycorrhizal fungi for nutrition during germination.

Complete answer:
The seed is a ripened ovule, comprising an embryo, food reserves, and the protective covering is known as seed coat. The embryo has an axis known as the embryo axis or tigellum and one or two seed leaves are called cotyledons. One end of the embryo axis possesses a plumule or future shoot. The other end has a radicle or future root. Radicles often bear a root cap at the tip of the radicle. Plumule is protected by a few small leaves. The portion of the embryo axis lying between the plumule and cotyledons is called epicotyl while one between cotyledons and the radicle is referred to as hypocotyl. The seeds that have not used endosperm completely for their nourishment are known as albuminous seeds while the exalbuminous seeds consume endosperm completely and food stored in the cotyledons.

Hence, the correct answer is option (A)

Note: The majority of the monocotyledon seeds are albuminous seeds as they are having thick, swollen endosperms for nourishment. The endosperm is not completely consumed during embryo development, and it is nourishing tissues in seeds for the developing embryo. In some seeds the endosperm is completely absorbed during the development of the embryo and food is stored in two cotyledons. These are known as exalbuminous seeds. Examples of the plant having these types of seeds are peas, gram seeds, and beans.