A seed is a tiny piece of a plant that is used to grow other plants. A seed contains genetic material which determines what kind of plants it can grow. In order for a seed to survive, it must have the proper conditions. Some of these include water, oxygen and nutrients. If these conditions are not met, then a seed will not grow.
Origins
Seeds are reproductive organs of plants. Their function is to provide food to young plants. They are typically encased in a protective outer covering and contain a food reserve. Upon germination, the seed’s embryo grows to a certain size and is fertilized by pollen.
Seeds have an important role in the reproduction of vegetable gymnosperms. Many species of grasses, legumes, and trees produce seeds. These plants can be used as food or for fiber.
Some of the more interesting characteristics of seeds include their shape, their morphological complexity, and the presence of appendages, such as hairs, trichomes, and arils. A seed has a number of features which make it different from sporelings.
Phases of seed germination
Seed germination is a crucial stage of the life cycle of plants. It involves three stages. They are: phase I (imbibition), phase II (radicle emergence) and phase III (embryonic development). In each of these stages, the radicle protrudes from the seed coat and starts to grow.
During the germination process, a number of metabolic processes are activated. This includes the reprogramming of the transcriptome. These changes affect the activity of genes involved in amino acid synthesis, nucleus protrusion, transport, and cell wall metabolism. The enzymatic repair of DNA damage may also play an important role.
Induced dormancy
Induced dormancy is a condition in which a seed fails to germinate under favorable conditions. There are two major types of induced dormancy, primary dormancy and secondary dormancy. Primary dormancy is initiated during seed development and is imposed on the seed. Secondary dormancy is induced by environmental factors.
To determine the mechanism of induced dormancy, researchers have studied seeds from different species. Induced dormancy is caused by unfavorable environmental conditions such as temperature and illumination. For instance, tobacco seeds exhibit repression of ABA biosynthesis and a repression of a gene that is responsible for ABA catabolism.
Breaking dormancy
Breaking dormancy with seed is a critical factor in germination. Dormant seeds are still susceptible to environmental cues, including light, temperature, and water availability, but they are unable to germinate in a uniform manner. Some seeds have fully differentiated embryos, while others have immature embryos that need time to develop before germination.
Breaking dormancy with seed requires a number of factors, including the type of dormancy, its location in the seed, and the chemical structure of the seed coat. A combination of factors can lead to rapid metabolism of dormancy-breaking compounds.
Soaking longer can lead to oxygen starvation and seed death
For the uninitiated, soaking your crop in water for the night can be a drag. One of the more palatable uses is to spruce up your composting routines with a little elbow grease and good ol’ fashioned hard work. It’s a good thing there are plenty of online sources of phreatic weeds to choose from. After all, you don’t want to end up at the doghouse. The best part is that it is free to boot! Depending on where you live and what you grow, you may have the chance to try your hand at being a jack of all trades and master of none.
Soaking longer can lead to leaching
There are several reasons why it makes sense to soak seeds. For one thing, seeds that are not well hydrated are more susceptible to weeds, insects and disease. Moreover, seed soaking increases the rate at which natural rainfall occurs, allowing for a quick turnaround of crops. Soaking can be an effective alternative to chemical fertilizers, especially in the case of super sandy soils.
One thing to note about soaking a single seed in a container is that a single seed can last up to 48 hours, assuming the container is adequately sanitized. Depending on the sexy seed in question, it may even be a good idea to rinse it out and start over. This allows for more efficient leaching of germination inhibitors, which is the main reason for soaking in the first place. The same goes for removing pulp from a fleshy fruit, which can contain chemicals that can interfere with seed germination.
Genetic damage during dormancy
Seed dormancy is a physiological and molecular mechanism that prevents germination of seeds out of season. This process is regulated by a network of signal transduction pathways, metabolic pathways, and chromatin modifications. As a result, seeds require the appropriate environmental conditions to germinate. During seed dormancy, proteins and lipids are oxidized, leading to the destruction of polyunsaturated fatty acids. In addition, seeds undergo rapid dehydration and drying, which affect their DNA integrity.
Currently, the primary sources of DNA damage during germination and storage are believed to be DNA oxidation and lipid peroxidation. Although these mechanisms are not directly responsible for dormancy, their effects are felt.