Seed is a miniature, undeveloped plant embryo and food reserve contained within a protective outer covering called a seed coat. It “wakes up” and sprouts into a new plant when it encounters the right conditions of moisture, temperature and oxygen.
The process is called germination. All seeds have a general set of needs but each type has its own unique requirements.
Origin
The seed is the reproductive structure of gymnosperms and angiosperm plants. It consists of an embryo, a supply of nutrients for the embryo and a seed coat. Seeds are a key innovation that distinguishes spermaphytes from pteridophytes and bryophytes.
Seeds are morphologically complex and can vary in size, shape and weight. They can also be either endospermic or non-endospermic. Endospermic seeds have a layer of nutritious tissue called endosperm between the ovary wall and the seed coat, while non-endospermic seeds do not have this layer.
Various hypotheses have been advanced to explain the origin of seed. The retention theory is the most widely accepted explanation, based on comparative morphology and fossil investigations. Genetic studies of the process of seed development (including embryogenesis, endosperm differentiation and sporophyte formation) have been conducted. A number of genes have been identified that are involved in this process, namely those affecting assimilate accumulation, desiccation and dormancy. These processes are known as the seed program.
Functions
Seeds are a key means of reproduction for both angiosperms (flowering plants) and gymnosperms (conifers, cycads, and ginkgoes). They contain the embryo of a new plant enclosed in a protective coat and have a number of important functions. These include multiplication, dormancy, germination synchronization with optimal conditions, and dispersal.
The seeds of most plants are adapted to be dispersed by wind, animals, or water, allowing them to spread and colonize new areas. These functions are essential for plant evolution and survival.
A random number generator requires a starting value or a seed to generate a stream of random numbers. The seed() method allows you to specify a unique starting value for the random number generator in Python. This is important for reproducible results and making algorithms easy to test.
Varieties
Every seed contains the essentials of a new plant, including an embryo or miniature undeveloped plant and food reserves, wrapped in a protective coat. Seeds range in size, method of dispersal, germination requirements and other factors. From the minute seeds of orchids to the ginormous coconut palms, each one has its own special way of waking up and growing when conditions are right.
To help farmers and home gardeners make intelligent choices as they purchase seed, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has established rules for naming and labeling agricultural and vegetable seed varieties. These are based on the Federal Seed Act, which is a truth-in-labeling law designed to protect farmers and consumers alike. It’s important to understand that a company name must not be used as part of the variety name, and a company name may only be added to a legal variety name once it is legally assigned by an official source. The use of a company name in this context can confuse or mislead the market, and is prohibited.
Uses
Seeds are an important source of food for humans and animals. The seeds of cereal grains such as wheat, rice and corn (maize), beans, peas, peanuts and coconut contain important nutrients. Seeds are also used to produce flour, starch and oil. Oil for cooking, margarine production and painting is produced from the seeds of flax, rape, cotton, soybean, sunflower, safflower, poppy and castor bean. Essential oils are extracted from the seeds of some plants such as juniper “berries” and coffee, kola, clover and yarrow.
In generative AI, a seed is a value or set of values provided to a model to start the process of generating an output. Using a seed ensures that the generated output will be consistent and reproducible. A seed is often used in conjunction with a random number generator to provide an initial random sequence. Then the algorithm can be “locked” to that sequence and run again. This is known as the locking seed.