Germination
- Germination is the start of growth in the seed
- The seed contains the zygote (the fertilised egg cell), which divides into cells that then develop into the embryo plant
- When the seed germinates, this embryo begins to grow into the young seedling
- Structures known as cotyledons surround the embryo
- Some plants have one cotyledon, whereas others have two
- The cotyledons contain food reserves that supply the young seedling with food (and, therefore, energy for growth) when the seed starts to germinate
- The cotyledons fulfil this role until the young plant grows its own leaves and becomes capable of making its own food via photosynthesis
- After taking in water, the seed coat (testa) splits
- This leads to the production of the plumule (the first emerging shoot) and radicle (the first emerging root)
The structures of a germinating seed
