Question

The seed contains the future plant or embryo which develops into seedling under appropriate conditions.
(a) True
(b) False

Answer 1

Hint: The embryo within the seed grows into a seedling and further germinates into a plant, given the environmental conditions support its growth. This whole process is what we call seed germination.

Complete answer: Seed germination is the sprouting of a seedling from a seed found in both angiosperm & gymnosperms.

In the initial stage of the germination, the seeds soak up water rapidly and resulting in swelling and softening of the seed coat (a process termed as imbibition) at an optimum temperature. It starts the growth process by the activation of enzymes, which again requires an optimum temperature.
The seed then activates its internal physiology and begins exchanging gases (respiration). Along with this, it produces proteins which are later stored as reserve food. (This is essentially the lag phase of the germination process). By rupturing the seed coat, the radicle emerges which ultimately forms the primary root. The seed then starts absorbing the underground water. After the emergence of the radicle and the plumule, next the shoot starts developing.

In the final stage of seed germination, the cell of the seeds become metabolically active, elongate and divide to give rise to the seedling. External factors such as water, oxygen, and weather conditions (temperature, and darkness or lightness) are extremely important and the seeds sprout properly when these are optimum.

So, the correct answer is ‘True’.

Note: Seed dormancy is caused by inhibiting chemicals present inside the seed. Physiological conditions causing internal dormancy arise from the presence of germination inhibitors inside the seed.