Germination

The idea

The seed contains the future plant, the embryo, which develops into a seedling under appropriate conditions; this process is germination.

Inside a seed

A seed looks still and quiet, but it holds the future plant.

What do we call the future plant inside the seed?

• The embryo
• The fruit
• The pollen

A seed wakes up

Press Next step.

Seed to seedling

A seed holds the embryo, the future plant. Under appropriate conditions the embryo develops into a seedling. This process is called germination.

The seed contains the future plant, the embryo, which develops into a seedling under appropriate conditions. This process is germination.

Notes

The seed holds the embryo, the future plant. Germination is its development into a seedling under appropriate conditions.

Check yourself

Which part of a seed is the future plant?

Germination is the process in which …

What does the embryo develop into under appropriate conditions?

• The tough coat. The tough coat is formed when the ovule becomes a seed. The embryo is the future plant.
• The fruit. The fruit forms from the ovary. The future plant inside the seed is the embryo.
• The embryo — correct. Yes!
• the embryo in a seed develops into a seedling — correct. Yes!
• pollen lands on the stigma. That is pollination.
• the ovule becomes a seed. That happens after fertilisation. Germination is the development of the seed's embryo into a seedling.
• A zygote. The zygote is formed at fertilisation, before the embryo.
• A seedling — correct. Yes!
• A flower at once. The book says the embryo develops into a seedling.