Summary
Protective packages containing an embryo and food store that can grow into a new plant.
In depth
A seed has a testa, an embryo (radicle, plumule, cotyledons) and food store (endosperm or cotyledons). Dormancy delays germination until conditions are suitable. Seed banks conserve diversity.
Seed coats protect against drying and damage. Many seeds need a trigger: cold stratification, fire, scarification or leaching of inhibitors. Seed size is a trade-off between number and reserves.
Example: some desert seeds germinate only after enough rainfall washes off inhibitors.
The seed is a major evolutionary innovation: it protects the embryo, supplies food and allows dispersal and dormancy. Monocot seeds such as maize and wheat have one cotyledon and a starchy endosperm; dicot seeds such as beans store food in cotyledons. The micropyle is a tiny pore where the pollen tube entered and where water enters in germination. Seeds can survive for decades or centuries: a date palm seed 2000 years old germinated.
Seeds are the basis of agriculture: cereals, pulses, nuts and oils. Seed banks, such as the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, preserve diversity. Seed vigour and viability are tested by germination or tetrazolium staining.
Frequently asked questions
What is Seeds?
Protective packages containing an embryo and food store that can grow into a new plant.
Which area of biology covers Seeds, and how advanced is it?
Seeds is one of the 56 topics in Plant Biology. It is rated Beginner, so it suits learners who are starting out in biology. Related topics in this area include Germination, Monocots vs Dicots, Seed Dispersal.
Why does Seeds matter?
Dormancy helps plants avoid germinating in the wrong season.
Can you give an example of Seeds?
Lotus seeds have germinated after hundreds of years.
What should I learn before Seeds?
Seeds is a Beginner topic, so no earlier topic is required. Other Beginner topics in Plant Biology that pair well with it include Plant Kingdom, Photosynthesis, Chlorophyll.
What topics are related to Seeds?
The closest topics to Seeds are Germination, Monocots vs Dicots, Seed Dispersal, Double Fertilisation. Comparing them side by side is a good way to see how the ideas connect.
How can I check that I understand Seeds?
Read the summary and the in-depth section, then use the quick check on the interactive lesson for Seeds. To practise the whole of Plant Biology, use the Plant Biology quiz.
How is Seeds different from Germination?
Seeds: Protective packages containing an embryo and food store that can grow into a new plant. Germination: The sprouting of a seed into a seedling when water, oxygen and suitable temperature are available. Read both side by side and note what each one explains.
How should I study Seeds step by step?
First, read the summary and write the definition in your own words. Second, read the in-depth section and note any example. Third, compare it with Germination and explain the difference aloud. Finally, take the Plant Biology quiz and come back to this page for any question you miss.