Germination
- Germination is the beginning of seed growth
- The seed contains a zygote that develops into the embryo
- During germination, the embryo grows into a seedling
- Cotyledons surround the embryo, storing food for the seedling
- Some plants have one cotyledon, others have two
- Cotyledons provide energy until the plant can photosynthesize
- Water absorption splits the seed coat (testa), allowing the plumule (first emerging shoot) and radicle (first emerging root) to emerge
The structures of a germinating seed
