Question

The main function of cotyledons in a seed is to
A) Provide protection to the radicle and plumule
B) Help in seed germination
C) Supply food to the young embryo
D) Store food material

Answer 1

Hint: Cotyledons act as the first leaves of the seedling that comes out during the seed germination.

Complete answer: Let us discuss the cotyledons. We often hear the terms like dicot seeds and monocot seeds. You would be happy to find that it is because of the cotyledons that such a classification of seeds is made.
>Cotyledons are the part of the seeds that are often referred to as seed leaves or first leaves of the seedling. Cotyledon is the seed leaf within the embryo of a seed. This is because they supply food to the baby plant coming out during the seed germination.
>Those seeds that have a single cotyledon are called monocot seeds, such as wheat, rice, maize, etc. Seeds with two cotyledons are called dicot seeds, such as gram, peas, etc. in plants like pine and other gymnosperms, there can be as many as eight to twenty cotyledons in a seed.
>Cotyledons are rich in proteins, starch, and fats. These stored nutrients are supplied to the seedling during germination. Sometimes, the cotyledons may become photosynthetic in function during the process of germination. So their major role is in supporting the baby plant nutrition-wise during the seed germination.

Therefore, the correct answer is option B.

Note: The coleoptile and coleorhiza provide protection to plumule and radicle respectively in monocot seeds. The endosperm, a nutritive tissue, formed during the double fertilization, supplies food material to the young embryo. Both the endosperm and cotyledons store food material.