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1.4.3 - Seed

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Structure of Seeds

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Teacher
Teacher

Today, we're going to learn about seeds, which are the final products of sexual reproduction in flowering plants. What are the main components of a typical seed?

Student 1
Student 1

I think seeds consist of something called cotyledons and an embryo!

Teacher
Teacher

Correct! Seeds usually have cotyledons, which serve as food reserves, alongside the embryo axis and seed coats. Can anyone explain the difference between albuminous and non-albuminous seeds?

Student 2
Student 2

Isn't it that albuminous seeds retain some endosperm, while non-albuminous seeds completely use it up during development?

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! Albuminous seeds include examples like wheat, and non-albuminous ones include peas. Can you remember any benefits of seed dormancy?

Student 3
Student 3

Dormancy helps seeds survive until the right conditions for germination.

Teacher
Teacher

Great point! Seeds do not germinate immediately after formation, which ensures they have a higher chance of success.

Teacher
Teacher

In summary, seeds are composed of cotyledons, an embryo axis, and seed coats, and they can be classified based on endosperm presence!

Seed Germination and Fruits

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Teacher
Teacher

Let’s move on to germination and fruit development. What happens to seeds as they mature?

Student 1
Student 1

They lose water content and may enter a state of dormancy.

Teacher
Teacher

Yes! And what can trigger the dormancy to end?

Student 2
Student 2

Sufficient moisture, temperature, and oxygen can break seed dormancy.

Teacher
Teacher

Exactly! Now, how do seeds develop into fruits?

Student 4
Student 4

The ovary transforms into the fruit while the ovules become seeds.

Teacher
Teacher

Correct! The transformation of ovules into seeds and ovaries into fruits happens simultaneously, resulting in various fruit types. Can we name some?

Student 3
Student 3

Fleshy fruits like mangoes and dry fruits like peanuts?

Teacher
Teacher

Excellent examples! Remember, fruits aid in seed dispersal, an important aspect for plant reproduction.

Introduction & Overview

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Quick Overview

This section discusses the structure and significance of seeds in angiosperms, detailing their development and differences between albuminous and non-albuminous types.

Standard

Seeds, as the final product of sexual reproduction in angiosperms, consist of seed coats, cotyledons, and an embryo axis. They can be classified into albuminous and non-albuminous seeds based on the retention of endosperm. The section elaborates on seed dormancy, germination, and the evolution of fruits and seed dispersal mechanisms.

Detailed

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Audio Book

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Definition and Structure of Seed

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In angiosperms, the seed is the final product of sexual reproduction. It is often described as a fertilised ovule. Seeds are formed inside fruits. A seed typically consists of seed coat(s), cotyledon(s) and an embryo axis.

Detailed Explanation

A seed is a crucial product of the sexual reproduction process in flowering plants (angiosperms). It develops from a fertilized ovule and is enclosed within fruits. The structure of a seed generally includes several parts:
- The seed coat protects the seed
- The cotyledons serve as food storage for the developing plant
- The embryo axis, which is the part that will grow into the plant once conditions are favorable. These components work together to support the growth and establishment of a new plant.

Examples & Analogies

Think of a seed as a small, self-contained package of food and instruction for a future plant. Just like a lunchbox that holds a sandwich (cotyledons), protects it from getting squished (seed coat), and includes a recipe (embryo axis) for how to make a sandwich, a seed contains everything that the plant embryo needs to start growing.

Types of Seeds: Non-albuminous and Albuminous

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The cotyledons of the embryo are simple structures, generally thick and swollen due to storage of food reserves (as in legumes). Mature seeds may be non-albuminous or ex-albuminous. Non-albuminous seeds have no residual endosperm as it is completely consumed during embryo development (e.g., pea, groundnut). Albuminous seeds retain a part of endosperm as it is not completely used up during embryo development (e.g., wheat, maize, barley, castor).

Detailed Explanation

There are two main types of seeds based on the presence of endosperm:
- Non-albuminous seeds: These seeds, such as peas and groundnuts, consume all their stored endosperm during the development of the embryo. Hence, once mature, they do not contain any remaining endosperm.
- Albuminous seeds: In contrast, these seeds, such as wheat and maize, retain some of their endosperm, providing additional nourishment to the embryo even after it has developed.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine cooking a meal. In some dishes, all the ingredients are fully consumed, leaving nothing behind (like non-albuminous seeds). In others, ingredients remain for future use, like leftover rice kept in the fridge (like albuminous seeds).

Seed Coat and Dormancy

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Integuments of ovules harden as tough protective seed coats. The micropyle remains as a small pore in the seed coat. This facilitates entry of oxygen and water into the seed during germination. As the seed matures, its water content is reduced and seeds become relatively dry (10-15 per cent moisture by mass). The general metabolic activity of the embryo slows down. The embryo may enter a state of inactivity called dormancy, or if favourable conditions are available (adequate moisture, oxygen and suitable temperature), they germinate.

Detailed Explanation

The outer layer of the seed, called the seed coat, hardens to provide protection from environmental factors. It has a small opening, the micropyle, that allows water and oxygen to enter when conditions are right for germination. As the seed matures, it loses moisture and enters a dormant state, where the metabolic activities slow down significantly. This dormancy is crucial, allowing the seed to survive unfavorable conditions until the environment becomes suitable for germination.

Examples & Analogies

Think of a seed coat as a protective film that keeps a computer safe from dust and damage. Just like you wouldn't want your computer to turn on in a messy, wet environment, seeds don't want to germinate until everything is just right.

Formation of Fruits and Dispersal Mechanisms

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As ovules mature into seeds, the ovary develops into a fruit, i.e., the transformation of ovules into seeds and ovary into fruit proceeds simultaneously. The wall of the ovary develops into the wall of the fruit called pericarp. The fruits may be fleshy as in guava, orange, mango, etc., or may be dry, as in groundnut, and mustard, etc. Many fruits have evolved mechanisms for dispersal of seeds.

Detailed Explanation

When seeds form, the ovary surrounding the seeds also transforms into a fruit. The fruit's wall, known as the pericarp, develops from the ovary wall. Fruits can be fleshy, like strawberries and peaches, or dry, like nuts and legumes. These fruits are essential for seed dispersal, ensuring that seeds can spread to new areas and grow into new plants.

Examples & Analogies

Picture a fruit as a delivery package that carries seeds to distant locations. Just as a delivery truck transports packages to customers, fruits help move seeds away from the parent plant. When animals eat fruits, they may carry the seeds in their stomachs and deposit them far from the parent plant, leading to new growth.

Importance of Seeds in Agriculture

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Seeds offer several advantages to angiosperms. Firstly, since reproductive processes such as pollination and fertilisation are independent of water, seed formation is more dependable. Also seeds have better adaptive strategies for dispersal to new habitats and help the species to colonise in other areas. As they have sufficient food reserves, young seedlings are nourished until they are capable of photosynthesis on their own.

Detailed Explanation

Seeds are vitally important for the survival and spread of flowering plants. They enable plants to reproduce without depending on water, making reproduction more reliable. Seeds can be adapted to disperse over various distances, helping plants to colonize new areas. Furthermore, the food reserves in seeds nourish young plants until they can start making their own food through photosynthesis.

Examples & Analogies

Think of seeds like emergency rations for new plants; they represent a survival kit. Just like a backpacker carries food and tools to survive until they can establish themselves in a new area, seeds provide young plants the necessary nutrients to grow until they can photosynthesize and sustain themselves.

Viability and Longevity of Seeds

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How long do the seeds remain alive after they are dispersed? This period again varies greatly. In a few species, the seeds lose viability within a few months. Seeds of a large number of species live for several years. Some seeds can remain alive for hundreds of years.

Detailed Explanation

The lifespan of seeds after dispersal varies widely. Some seeds may only last a few months, while others can remain viable for years or even centuries. This variability depends on the species and the conditions in which the seeds are stored. For example, some seeds have been found to remain viable after thousands of years, showcasing nature’s incredible adaptability.

Examples & Analogies

Imagine a library storing books for future generations. Just like some old books can be preserved and still read after centuries, seeds too can remain dormant and viable for years, just waiting for the right conditions to 'open' them up and let them grow.

Definitions & Key Concepts

Learn essential terms and foundational ideas that form the basis of the topic.

Key Concepts

  • Seed Structure: Seeds consist of seed coat, cotyledons, and embryo axis.

  • Types of Seeds: Seeds can be classified as albuminous or non-albuminous based on endosperm retention.

  • Dormancy: Seeds can remain dormant before germination until conditions are suitable.

  • Fruit Development: The ovary develops into a fruit while ovules develop into seeds.

Examples & Real-Life Applications

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Examples

  • An example of a non-albuminous seed is a pea, where the endosperm is used up completely during development.

  • Coconut is an example of an albuminous seed, which retains endosperm even after the seed matures.

Memory Aids

Use mnemonics, acronyms, or visual cues to help remember key information more easily.

🎵 Rhymes Time

  • Seeds need coats to grow right, with food inside for a cozy night.

📖 Fascinating Stories

  • Once, a tiny seed dreamed of becoming a mighty tree. It tucked itself into a snug coat, resting until it found the perfect sunshine and rain to wake it up.

🧠 Other Memory Gems

  • Remember! SCEF - Seed Coat, Embryo, Cotyledons, Endosperm (if applicable).

🎯 Super Acronyms

SEED - Seed coat, Embryo, Dormancy, (endosperm for albuminous).

Flash Cards

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Glossary of Terms

Review the Definitions for terms.

  • Term: Seed

    Definition:

    The fertilized ovule of a flowering plant, typically containing an embryo and food reserves.

  • Term: Cotyledon

    Definition:

    The first leaves that develop from a seed and often serve as food for the developing plant.

  • Term: Albuminous Seed

    Definition:

    Seeds that retain part of the endosperm for nutrition during the embryo's development.

  • Term: NonAlbuminous Seed

    Definition:

    Seeds that consume their endosperm completely during the development of the embryo.

  • Term: Dormancy

    Definition:

    A state in which seeds remain inactive until favorable conditions for germination arise.