Month: August 2023

Seed is the food supply that enables a new plant to grow. It contains all the nutrients that it will need until it is able to make its own food through photosynthesis.

Seeds are found in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, but they all have the same basic structure. They have a protective outer coating that encloses an embryo and food reserves.

Definition

Seed is the fertilized ovule of a plant with stored food materials and enclosed within a protective seed coat. It is a means of reproduction for vascular plants, including gymnosperms and angiosperms.

An embryo is a miniature undeveloped plant and the food reserves are in the endosperm of the seed. The seed coat is usually a thick, toughened covering that can retain moisture and protect the embryo during storage. It also acts as a barrier to dehydration. Seeds are the primary source of grains, fruits and legumes. Seeds from plants like soybeans, cotton, sunflower and coconut provide cooking oil.

Open pollinated seeds, such as heirloom varieties of vegetables, will grow true to type if another variety does not cross-pollinate them. Hybrid seeds, however, will produce a plant with the genetic characteristics of both parents. The term seed is also used figuratively, as in the idea of a person or thing being ranked and spread out across early tournament rounds.

Origin

Until seed plants evolved, most land plants reproduced by throwing out single-celled spores into the air to be dispersed and grow into new plants. The advantage of seeds over this method of reproduction is that the reserve food materials accumulated in the endosperm give the emerging plant an excellent start.

The structure of a seed is complex. It consists of an embryo, a storage tissue (endosperm) and a seed coat. The embryo consists of an immature root (the radicle) and an embryonic shoot (the plumule or epicotyl). The cotyledons—one in monocotyledons, two in dicotyledons, and two to several in gymnosperms—are attached to the epicotyl.

The evolutionary origin of the seed is difficult to determine. Some authors have suggested that seed ferns—Bennettitales and Gnetales—are angiosperm ancestors because of their flower-like structures, but fossils have not proved this hypothesis. Furthermore, if molecular analyses are correct, Gnetales should be more closely related to conifers than Bennettitales, and the Gnetales ovules would be better homologous with the cupule of angiosperms.

Function

The primary function of seed is to store a reserve supply of food that supports the embryo plant until it develops roots and can make its own food. The outer seed coat protects the embryo from damage and helps to retain moisture. The seed coat also contains a layer of food storage called endosperm.

A seed’s multicellular structure provides an advantage over single-celled spores for dispersal. The nutrient material stored in the seed enables the new plant to grow quickly and establish itself in a new environment.

The three parts of a seed include the radicle, cotyledons, and epicotyl. The cotyledons are the first leaves of the seedling. The epicotyl is the stem that grows above the cotyledons. Many seeds have a hard outer seed coat that is impervious to water. This condition, called physiological dormancy, is usually broken by a period of moist chilling or stratification. Other seeds, such as soybeans (a dicot), are able to break down their own dormancy with the help of enzymes that facilitate DNA repair.

Dispersal

Many plants depend on seed dispersal to survive. As seeds spread out over a region they can avoid overcrowding and competition for water, sunlight and space for growth.

Some seeds, such as those of dandelions, have feathery bristles that float away on the wind (anemochory). Others like maples have wings that flutter when the fruits open and fall from the tree (epiphyte).

Other seeds, primarily those of gymnosperms such as ginkgo and spruce, have hard coatings adapted to stick to fur, feathers or even animal dung. Still others have fleshy appendages that entice animals to eat them and then carry the seeds along, or have hooks and barbs that allow them to pass through the digestive tract without being digested.

Hydrochory is the seed dispersal method used by plants that live in or near the water, such as lilies, palm trees and many aquatic and freshwater plants. This type of dispersal sends seeds out into the waters where they can be carried by ocean currents over long distances, allowing them to land at other locations.

In recent years regular seeds have been almost forgotten as growers have shifted to feminized strains. However, for those who are passionate about breeding their own variations on marijuana, it’s still vital to keep some regular seeds around.

For one thing, male plants produced by regular seeds are less prone to becoming hermaphrodites when stressed through techniques like topping, fimming or defoliation.

Unaltered Genetics

For cannabis growers, genetics are everything. The genes in the plants dictate the plant’s stability, yield, harvest quality, and psychoactive effects.

Growing regular seeds means you could end up with either male or female plants, as they can be pollinated by another male or a hermaphrodite (plants that produce both male and female flowers). It was the standard way of growing marijuana before feminized seeds were invented. Luckily for you, we carry a wide variety of both feminized and regular seeds from the finest 1980’s genetics!

Having both male and female plants also allows for breeding. Breeders can stress a plant with the hope of forcing it to develop male sex features, then cross it with another strain in order to create new hybrids. This is a common practice in all agricultural crops, and one that is still used by marijuana breeders today.

Affordability

Generally speaking, regular seeds are much cheaper to produce than feminized or autoflowering varieties. This makes them more affordable to buy. While growers must still cull a number of male plants (which they then throw away), this is a minor expense for many who enjoy cultivating their own strains.

Regular seeds also provide a more stable genetic structure than feminized strains. This is because feminized seeds require that the phenotype of a particular female plant be reverse pollinated with its male counterpart in order to create 100% female specimens. This process can cause the phenotype to become slightly altered over time.

As a result, many breeders prefer to use regular seeds when creating new cultivars. This allows them to maintain the original genetics of their strains over several generations. Ultimately, this can lead to unique and potent strains that haven’t been seen before. Often, these unique strains can be made into clones by growers for future grows.

Pollination Issues

As with any plant, regular seeds can be either male or female. When growing them, growers must be vigilant to ensure that any male plants are eliminated before they pollinate the female cultivars. Keeping male plants out of the mix allows the females to spend all of their energy and resources on developing robust buds, leading to higher yields.

On average, about half of a pack of 10 regular seeds will produce male plants, and that can be frustrating for growers who want to do breeding projects or create their own strains from scratch. As a result, feminized seeds have become increasingly popular and are more widely available than regular seeds.

Outcross-pollination is also beneficial for producers of cotton and sesame because it increases the amount of seed produced by the female plants, boosting overall yields. This is why some growers choose to grow regular seeds alongside feminized varieties. This way, they can harvest their crops when they want without the worry of having to wait until all the male plants have gone to seed.

Genetic Diversity

In a broad context, plant conservationists seek to maximise genetic diversity in seed collections to support adaptive evolution in the long term. This also contributes to overcoming inbreeding depression and ensuring reproductive success in self-incompatible species [1, 2, 3].

The value of genetic diversity is often associated with its ability to mitigate the impact of life-history trade-offs between different traits. However, this depends on the life-history strategy that underpins the trait in question and is not always evident.

The extent to which a particular sampling strategy captures genetic variation is strongly influenced by mating system structure (e.g., a predominantly selfing or biparentally inbreeding mating system increases within-site genetic distances and FIS compared to an outcrossing or mixed mating system). Our results showed that capturing genetic diversity was generally improved by sampling more than one maternal line (within-site average pairwise genetic distance) with the exception of H. sericea sites PT and SP (Table S1). This suggests that the extent to which genetic diversity is captured in seedling subsamples is strongly dependent on the mating system employed.

Cannabis seeds contain high levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, fiber, antioxidants, vitamin E, minerals, chlorophyll, and immune-stimulating secondary plant compounds. They also provide nitric oxide, which helps reduce blood pressure and promotes healthy circulation.

A regular pack of marijuana seeds contains both male and female plants. Sexing them can be a time-consuming process, and even one male plant may pollinate your entire crop and cause all the females to produce seeds.

Health Benefits

Cannabis seeds are not only tasty, but they also offer a variety of health benefits. These brown seeds contain a lot of dietary fibre, proteins, fatty acids and antioxidants. They have a mild taste and can be used in many recipes. They are available at most food stores and online.

The dietary fibre in cannabis seeds is important for digestive health, because it can make you feel full for longer. It can also help you control your weight. The seeds also provide essential protein, which is a vital part of your diet.

The seeds also contain the amino acid arginine, which helps the heart by reducing blood pressure and widening blood vessels. This can reduce your risk of heart disease and lower your chances of getting a stroke. The seeds also contain gamma-linoleic acid, which can reduce inflammation in the body. This can also help with premenstrual syndrome and menopause symptoms. They can also reduce the nausea caused by chemotherapy treatment.

Weight Management

Hemp seeds are full of proteins and healthy fats, especially omega-3 and omega-6. They also contain the rare gamma-linoleic acid, which is known to help with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) symptoms such as migraines and food cravings.

Hemp seed oil is rich in fatty acids and has a delicious, nutty flavour that can be used to prepare salad dressings or soups. They are also a good source of fibre, which helps regulate your digestive system and prevent constipation by attracting water into the stool.

Seeds are surrounded by a subtle membrane that protects them and keeps them healthy until they begin their germination process. They contain a substance called albumen, which is a nutritional reserve that gives the embryo its initial energy to sprout. In order to ensure that they germinate properly, it is essential that you keep them in a dry area rather than a humid one. Using feminized seeds will reduce the risk of hermaphrodite plants and ensure that all of your viable seeds produce female flowers.

Premenstrual Syndrome

Cannabis seed contains all the cells that will differentiate into leaves, roots, and stems. It is ovular in shape and pointy on both ends with a ridge that runs longitudinally from tip to tip on only one side.

Some research supports the idea that cannabis seeds help reduce symptoms associated with PMS, including cramps, nausea, and mood swings. The gamma linoleic acid that is found in the seeds can also help reduce prolactin levels, which is known to increase pain during periods.

Another way to avoid the hassle of sexing plants is to buy feminized seeds. Feminized seeds ensure that every plant you grow will be a female, which can save a lot of time and money. However, if you decide to use fem seeds, it’s important to select parents that have traits in common with the phenotype you want to produce. For example, you should choose plants with high yield and good resistance to mold and contaminants.

Cancer Prevention

Cannabis seeds are rich in healthy fats and proteins. They also contain little tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the psychoactive compound found in marijuana. They can be eaten without causing any mind-altering effect. However, athletes and others who undergo drug tests should be aware that consuming hemp products can cause them to fail the test.

If you are buying cannabis seeds, look for a website that offers numerous customer reviews. A company with positive reviews is more likely to have quality seeds and offer excellent customer service.

Cannabis seeds are a powerful plant with many health benefits. They can help alleviate pain, reduce nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy, boost mood and promote sleep. However, more research is needed to determine if these plants can treat cancer or prevent it from developing. Currently, only a few trials have been done on humans. Hopefully, more research will be conducted in the future. The results could lead to a more effective treatment for cancer patients.