City of Mandaluyong Science High School

Senior High School

E. Pantaleon St., Hulo, Mandaluyong City

Plant Physiology: Germination

Dela Cena, Patricia Beatrice S.1

1Student, City of Mandaluyong Science High School

ABSTRACT

A deep assimilation of any concept as a whole will never be accurate when the parts
are ambiguous. The same rings true for the physiology of a living organism, one of which
includes plants. A process wherein a dormant seed begins to sprout and grow into a seedling
under the right growing conditions called germination was observed via experimentation on
Vigna radiata (Mung Bean) and Zea mays (Corn) seeds. The specific phases of germination,
that of which are imbibition, interim, and radicle and root emergence, were also taken note
of. The experiment also provided answers as to whether certain factors (salinity,
temperature, and light source) were possibly going to affect the growth of the sample seeds.
The experiment was divided into two parts. The first part involved putting the 40 mL worth
of the two plant seed samples into two different graduated cylinders and were afterwards
submerged into 50 mL water. The second involved twelve sets of samples that were exposed
into varying conditions. With regards to the first part of the experiment, general findings
showed the phases of germination, with the most prominent one being the root growth. As
for the second part of the experiment, it was seen how the plant specimens reacted
differently depending on the what the altered variable was. Thus, in conclusion, it can be said
with certainty that the germination of a seed or any other similar structure can be affected
by a number of factors ranging from salinity, temperature, and presence of light and that the
phases of germination, including imbibition, may be greatly delayed or ceased altogether
when certain growing conditions are not satisfied.

Keywords: physiology, germination, Via radiata, Zea mays, imbibition, interim, radicle and root
emergence

1
INTRODUCTION
Living organisms have the
capability to reproduce as a means to
ensure their survival. Unlike the
organisms from Kingdom Animalia that
produce live offsprings, most of the
organisms from Kingdom Plantae produce
embryonic plants enclosed in a protective
outer covering called seeds. These seeds
are typically dispersed in a dry state and
will only thrive when they are not dormant
and certain environmental conditions are
met. (Weitbrecht, Müller, & Leubner-
Metzger, 2011) The process by which a
plant grows from a seed is called
germination.
Germination commences when a
seed uptakes water with the appropriate
temperature in the first phase called
imbibition. (Bewley, 1997) Interim or lag
phase immediately follows imbibition.
(Mackean, 2010) Expansion and hydrated
food supplies will then enable the seed’s
metabolic activities for the production of
energy to start its growth and
development. Water in this case, also
allows the turgor pressure inside the seed
to intensify; making the outer appearance
of the seed look swollen. The last phase of
germination, called root emergence,
consists of having the primary root –
radicle – shoot out of the seed and move
downwards towards the soil for nutrient
absorption. (Bewley, 1997) The rest of the
dramatic changes in a seed ensues right
after the primary root takes hold of a
stable supply of water and is able to
photosynthesize properly.
There are some cases, however,
wherein an intact viable seed fails to
complete germination due to unfavorable
circumstances (Bewley, 1997) such as the
inappropriate amount of saline in its water
supply, the absence of light, or harsh
climate conditions. This is when seed
dormancy occurs.
For the sake of simplifying an
overly complicated process, dormancy
constrains the ability of a seed to properly
germinate for an extended amount of time.
It prevents pre-harvest germination as
well. Vast amounts of studies have been
dedicated to better understand how the
blockage of germination works due to
environmental conditions and applied
chemicals, though still very little about the
process is known. (Bentsink & Koorneef,
2008)
The concept of germination proves
to be pivotal in many fields involving
botany, agriculture, and plants in general.
For one, understanding seed germination
and dormancy is the baseline foundation
of farming and planting especially in
countries that have plants as their staple
food, including the Philippines. (Gummert,
2010) The activity then therefore aims to
observe these phenomena in the simplest
way conceivable through the observation
of Vigna radiata and Zea mays seeds under
different conditions thus enabling the
further comprehension of the concepts
that are essential to germination, its
phases and seed dormancy.
2
METHODOLOGY RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The experiment was subdivided A total of fourteen (14) specimens

into two parts, both initially designed to of Vigna radiata and Zea mays seeds with
observe how certain factors will affect the varying environmental conditions were
germination of the viable seed samples. obtained, experimented on, and observed.
The following data were then gathered:
PART I
Part I:
40 mL worth of Vigna radiata and
Zea mays samples were obtained and
transferred into two separate graduated
cylinders. The graduated cylinders were
then filled with 50 mL water and were left
undisturbed. The total volume of the seeds
and water were recorded at the 24-hour
and 48-hour marks.

PART II

Twelve (12) separate containers

were prepared and aptly labelled. Tissues
were securely placed at the bottom of the
containers. Twenty (20) Vigna radiata and
Zea mays seeds were placed into the each
of the containers in a 4x5 matrix, each 1 cm
apart from each other. Set-ups VS1 and
ZS1 were doused with salt water and kept
in normal room temperature with ample
presence of light. The rest of the set-ups
were doused with normal tap water,
Photoset 1.1 Vigna radiata (Mung Bean) and Zea
however, set-ups VT1 and ZT1, were mays (corn) submerged in water in a graduated
placed behind a refrigerator, set-ups VT2 cylinder, Day 1
and ZT2 inside a refrigerator, set-ups VL0
and ZL0 were deprived of light, and set-
ups VL1 and ZL1 were exposed to light. All
of the resulting seed root growths were
measured at the 24-hour and 48-hour
marks.

3
 Part II:

Photoset 2.1 Vigna radiata (Mung Bean) and Zea

mays (corn) submerged in water in a graduated
cylinder, Day 2

Table 1: Summary of the volumes of the seed

samples after 24 hours and after 48 hours

Z. mays V. radiata

24 hours 50 mL 65 mL

48 hours 51 mL 67 mL
Photoset 1.2: _NC Set-Ups, Day 1

Part I of the experiment showed

immediate results on the physical
appearance of the Vigna radiata (Mung
Bean) seeds by the 48-hour mark. On the
other hand, the Zea mays (corn) seeds
seem to only have increased from its
original size during the initial set-up once
it hit the 48-hour mark as there were no
visible primary roots. As for the volumes,
Table 1 shows how the Vigna radiata
seeds’ volume increased by 2 mL and the
Zea mays seeds by 1 mL.

Photoset 2.2: _NC Set-Ups, Day 2

4
Table 2: Summary of the lengths of the radicles of Table 3: Summary of the lengths of the radicles of
the Mung Bean seeds in normal conditions after 24 the Corn seeds in normal conditions after 24 hours
hours and after 48 hours and after 48 hours

Mung Bean Day 1: Length Day 2: Corn Seed # Day 1: Length Day 2:
Seed # of Radicle in Length of of Radicle in Length of
cm Radicle in cm cm Radicle in cm

1 0.6 1 1 0 0

2 0.7 0.9 2 0 0.5

3 0.2 0.4 3 0 0.11

4 0.7 1.2 4 0 0

5 0.5 0.9 5 0 0.31

6 0.7 0.8 6 0 0

7 0 0 7 0 0

8 0.4 0.7 8 0 0

9 0.4 0.8 9 0 0

10 0.5 0.9 10 0 0.21

11 0.2 0.5 11 0.01 0

12 0.7 1.3 12 0 0

13 0.8 1.5 13 0 0

14 0.4 0.8 14 0 0

15 0.7 1.3 15 0 0.09

16 0.9 1.5 16 0 0

17 0.7 1.5 17 0 0

18 0.6 1.4 18 0 0

19 0.1 1.3 19 0 0

20 0.8 1.4 20 0 0

Ave. Length of 0.53 0.93 Ave. Length of 0.001 cm 0.06 cm

Radicle: Radicle:

5
 Photosets 1.2 and 2.2 shows what
the Vigna radiata and Zea mays seeds
would look like under normal conditions.
Starting off from the 24-hour mark, the
Vigna radiata seeds were already showing
signs of radicle growth. Although not the
same could be said for the Zea mays seed
samples, it can still be observed after the
48-hour mark that both the seed
specimens exhibited root emergence and
are well-underway into properly growing
into mature plants.

Tables 1 and 2 show the average

radicle length of the seed samples. For the
Vigna radiata seeds the average length
after 24 hours was 0.44 cm and 0.7 cm
after 48 hours. For the Zea mays, the
lengths are 0.001 cm and 0.06 cm
respectively.

Photoset 4.2: _S1 Set-Ups, Day 2

Table 4: Summary of the lengths of the radicles of

the Mung Bean seeds in saltwater after 24 hours
and after 48 hours

Mung Bean Day 1: Length Day 2:

Seed # of Radicle in Length of
cm Radicle in cm

1 0 0

2 0 0

3 0 0

4 0 0

5 0 0

6 0 0

7 0 0

Photoset 3.2: _S1 Set-Ups, Day 1

6
 8 0 0 8 0 0

9 0 0 9 0 0

10 0 0 10 0 0

11 0 0 11 0 0

12 0 0 12 0 0

13 0 0 13 0 0

14 0 0 14 0 0

15 0 0 15 0 0

16 0 0 16 0 0

17 0 0 17 0 0

18 0 0 18 0 0

19 0 0 19 0 0

20 0 0 20 0 0

Ave. Length of 0 0 Ave. Length of 0 0

Radicle: Radicle:

Table 5: Summary of the lengths of the radicles of _S1 set-ups for the Vigna radiata
the Corn seeds in saltwater after 24 hours and after (Mung Bean) and Zea mays (corn) seeds
48 hours
exhibited no radicle growth after both the
Corn Seed # Day 1: Length Day 2: 24-hour and 48-hour marks. This can be
of Radicle in Length of attributed to the fact that germination
cm Radicle in cm revolves around the principles of osmosis,
1 0 0 especially during imbibition, wherein the
osmotic pressure created by sodium
2 0 0
chloride hinders water entering the seed
3 0 0 coat which is instead replaced by salt.

4 0 0 Tables 4 and 5 also shows the

tabulated numerical data for the lengths of
5 0 0
the radicles which both equate to 0 cm.
6 0 0

7 0 0

7
 Photoset 6.2: _T1 (High Temperature) Set-Ups,
Day 2

Table 6: Summary of the lengths of the radicles of

the Mung Bean seeds exposed to high temperature
after 24 hours and after 48 hours

Mung Bean Day 1: Length Day 2:

Seed # of Radicle in Length of
cm Radicle in cm

1 0 0

Photoset 5.2: _T1 (High Temperature) Set-Ups, 2 0 0

Day 1
3 0 0

4 0 0

5 0 0

6 0 0

7 0 0

8 0 0

9 0 0

10 0 0

11 0 0

12 0 0

13 0 0

8
 14 0 0 14 0 1.2

15 0 0 15 0 0.7

16 0 0 16 0 0.1

17 0 0 17 0 0.5

18 0 0 18 0 0

19 0 0 19 0 0

20 0 0 20 0 0

Ave. Length of 0 0 Ave. Length of 0 2.27

Radicle: Radicle:

Table 7: Summary of the lengths of the radicles of For the _T1 set-ups, the seed
the Corn seeds exposed to high temperature after
samples were placed behind a
24 hours and after 48 hours
refrigerator. After 24 hours, both the Vigna
Corn Seed # Day 1: Length Day 2: radiata and Zea mays seeds showed no
of Radicle in Length of sign of radicle growth. By the 48-mark,
cm Radicle in cm
some of the Zea mays seeds had emerged
1 0 5.6 primary roots. The Vigna radiata seeds,
however, was consistent and still showed
2 0 4.5 + 1.3
no sign of radicle growth.
3 0 2.1
Tables 6 and 7 shows the average
4 0 4.6 length of the radicles of the seeds. The
5 0 3.3
mung bean seeds’ average length for both
the 24 and 48-hour marks are 0 cm while
6 0 3.8 the corn seeds are 0 cm and 2.27 cm
7 0 0.8 respectively.

8 0 3.3

9 0 0.4

10 0 2.1

11 0 2.0

12 0 3.8

13 0 5.2

9
 Photoset 8.2: _T2 (Low Temperature) Set-Ups,
Day 2

Table 8: Summary of the lengths of the radicles of

the Mung Bean seeds exposed to low temperature
after 24 hours and after 48 hours

Mung Bean Day 1: Length Day 2:

Seed # of Radicle in Length of
cm Radicle in cm

1 0 0

Photoset 7.2: _T2 (Low Temperature) Set-Ups, 2 0 0

Day 1
3 0 0

4 0 0

5 0 0

6 0 0

7 0 0

8 0 0

9 0 0

10 0 0

11 0 0

12 0 0

13 0 0

10
 14 0 0 14 0 0

15 0 0 15 0 0

16 0 0 16 0 0

17 0 0 17 0 0

18 0 0 18 0 0

19 0 0 19 0 0

20 0 0 20 0 0

Ave. Length of 0 0 Ave. Length of 0 0

Radicle: Radicle:

Table 9: Summary of the lengths of the radicles of Different seeds require different
the Corn seeds exposed to low temperature after
temperatures to properly enter into their
24 hours and after 48 hours
germinating stage. Since both of the
Corn Seed # Day 1: Length Day 2: sample seeds require temperatures that
of Radicle in Length of are higher than that of the inside of a
cm Radicle in cm
refrigerator, both the seed samples in this
1 0 0 set-up did not exhibit any sign of radicle
emergence at all.
2 0 0
Tables 8 and 9 show the average
3 0 0
length of the radicles for this set-up, both
4 0 0 of which equate to 0 cm.
5 0 0

6 0 0

7 0 0

8 0 0

9 0 0

10 0 0

11 0 0

12 0 0

13 0 0

11
 Photoset 10.2: _L0 Set-Ups, Day 2

Table 10: Summary of the lengths of the radicles of

the Mung Bean seeds in the absence of light after
24 hours and after 48 hours

Mung Bean Day 1: Length Day 2:

Seed # of Radicle in Length of
cm Radicle in cm

1 0 0

2 0 0
Photoset 9.2: _L0 Set-Ups, Day 1
3 0 0

4 0 0

5 0 0

6 0 0

7 0 0

8 0 0

9 0 0

10 0 0

11 0 0

12 0 0

13 0 0

14 0 0

12
 15 0 0 15 0.09 0.2

16 0 0 16 0.1 0.11

17 0 0 17 0.08 0.02

18 0 0 18 0.09 0.01

19 0 0 19 0 2.21

20 0 0 20 0 0.1

Ave. Length of 0 0 Ave. Length of 0.07 0.18

Radicle: Radicle:

Table 11: Summary of the lengths of the radicles of This set-up deprived the seed
the Corn seeds in in the absence of light after 24
samples from the presence of light. After
hours and after 48 hours
both the 24 and 48-hour marks, only the
Corn Seed # Day 1: Length Day 2: Vigna radiata seeds exhibited no radicle
of Radicle in Length of growth.
cm Radicle in cm
Tables 10 and 11 also shows
1 0 0.03
the tabulated data for the lengths of the
2 0 0 radicles. The corn seeds’ data all equate to
3 0.41 0
0 cm while Table 11 with the corn seeds
have an average length of 0.07 cm and 0.18
4 0.11 01 cm for the 24-hour and 48-hour mark
5 0.05 0
respectively.

6 0.08 0.21

7 0 0.2

8 0 0

9 0.08 0

10 0 0

11 0.05 0.19

12 0.05 0.12

13 0.1 0

14 0.12 0.1

13
 Photoset 12.2: _L1 Set-Ups, Day 2

Table 12: Summary of the lengths of the radicles of

the Mung Bean seeds in in the presence of light
after 24 hours and after 48 hours

Mung Bean Day 1: Length Day 2:

Seed # of Radicle in Length of
cm Radicle in cm

1 0 0

2 0 0

3 0 0.05
Photoset 11.2: _L1 Set-Ups, Day 1
4 0 0

5 0 0

6 0 0.02

7 0 0.03

8 0 0

9 0 0.05

10 0 0.06

11 0 0.06

12 0 0

13 0 0

14 0 0.04

14
 15 0 0 15 0 00

16 0 0.02 16 0.08 0.1

17 0 0 17 0.1 0.1

18 0 0 18 0.15 0.16

19 0 0.03 19 0 0.04

20 0 0 20 0.06 0.13

Ave. Length of 0 0.018 Ave. Length of 0.07 0.1

Radicle: Radicle:

Table 13: Summary of the lengths of the radicles of For this set-up, the seed samples
the Corn seeds in in the presence of light after 24
were exposed to light. During the 24-hour
hours and after 48 hours
mark, both the seed samples did not show
Corn Seed # Day 1: Length Day 2: radicle growth, although the Vigna radiata
of Radicle in Length of seeds were visibly swollen as compared to
cm Radicle in cm
its appearance during the initial set-up.
1 0 0.03 After the 48-hour mark, the Zea mays still
did not show any sign of radicle growth.
2 0 0
On the other hand, the Vigna radiata seed
3 0.08 0.1 samples did, although they were
noticeably small.
4 0.07 0.1

5 0.12
6 0.35
7 0
8 0.13
9 0.06
0.14
Tables 12 shows that the Vigna
radiata seeds grew radicles that were at an
0.4 average length of 0.018 cm after the 48-
0.19 hour mark while Table 13 shows that the
Zea mays seeds’ average radicle length
0.15 equate to 0.07 cm for the 24-hour mark
0.08 and 0.1 cm for the 48-hour mark.

10 0 0.1

11 0.08 0.11

12 0.09 0.07

13 0.04 0.03

14 0 0.04

15
Table 14: Summary of the means of the lengths of CONCLUSIONS AND
the radicles of seed samples after 24 hours and RECOMMENDATIONS
after 48 hours
Fourteen (14) set-ups of both Vigna
Z. mays (in cm) V. radiata (in cm)
radiata and Zea mays seeds were
_NC 24: 48: 24: 48: observed. During the first part of the
0.001 0.6 0.53 0.93
experiment, the Vigna radiata and Zea
mays seeds were placed inside two (2)
_S1 24: 48: 24: 48: separate graduated cylinders and were
0.01 0.02 0 0 submerged in water. The aforementioned
results showed noticeable differences in
_T1 24: 48: 24: 48: both the physical appearance and volume
0 2.27 0 0 of the Vigna radiata seeds as it had grown
into sprouts and increased its overall
_T2 24: 48: 24: 48: volume by 2 mL. In contrast, the Zea mays
0 0 0 0 seeds appeared to have swelled and
looked more enlarged as compared to the
_L0 24: 48: 24: 48:
initial set-up. Its overall volume also
0.07 0.18 0 0 increased, but only by 1 mL. It could be
concluded here that imbibition can be
_L1 24: 48: 24: 48:
observed through the increasing volume
0.07 0.1 0 0.018 of the seeds.

For the second half of the

experiment, there were twelve (12) set-
Part II of the experiment showed
ups. Two (2) of those were considered as
the different outcomes of the altered
the seeds that grew under normal
variables of the salinity of water,
conditions. This allowed both set-ups to
temperature, and presence of light on the
grow normally and predictably showed
Vigna radiata (Mung Bean) and Zea mays
signs of radicle emergence after 48 hours.
(corn) seeds. Table 14 above shows the
The next two (2) set-ups which were the
numerical results in the differences of the
seeds exposed to saltwater. The Vigna
data as compared to the control groups
radiata seeds did not grow any primary
labelled “_NC” and to each one of the other
roots at all while the Zea mays seeds did.
set-ups.
However, the radicle of the said specimen
was small and stunted, The next set-up
involved the seeds to be put within an
environment that has a high temperature.
Again, the Vigna radiata seeds did not
grow altogether while the Zea mays seeds

16
grew radicles by the end of the 48-hour
mark. Set-up _T2 requires the specimens
to be confined within a place of low-
temperature. The results, therefore, all
equated to 0 cm for the root growth. Set-
up _L0 were placed in low-light conditions.
As the specimens were deprived of light,
the resulting radicles were 0 cm for the
Vigna radiata seeds and were stunted for
the Zea mays seeds. The last set-ups were
exposed to light. Even so, the emerging
radicles were still comparably short than
that of the control group. It can therefore
be said with certainty that the germination
of a seed or any other similar structure can
be affected by a number of factors
including but are not limited to salinity of
the available water, temperature, and
presence of light and that the phases of
germination, including imbibition, may be
greatly delayed or ceased altogether when
certain growing conditions are not
satisfied

All these results can prove to be

useful in a wide array of applicative fields
including agriculture and farming. The
findings, however, of some of the
specimens were not satisfactory and
cannot be deemed accurate as a number of
factors have affected the reliability of the
results. It is with this regard that it is
recommended that the execution of the
experiment should be well monitored and
should meet the expected instructions as
incorrect measurements will result in
inaccurate data and will ultimately cause
the failure of the entire experiment.

17
REFERENCES

Bentsink, L., & Koornneef, M. (2008). Seed

Dormancy and Germination. In The
Arabidopsis Book.
doi:10.1199/tab.0119

Bewley, J. (1997, July). Seed Germination

and Dormancy. The Plant Cell, IX,
1055-1066.
doi:https://doi.org/10.1105/tpc.9.
7.1055

Gummert, M. (2010). Rice Knowledge

Bank. Retrieved from
http://www.knowledgebank.irri.o
rg/training/fact-
sheets/management-of-other-
crop-problems-fact-sheet-
category/measuring-seed-
germination-fact-sheet

Hangarter, R. P. (2000). Plants in Motion.

Retrieved from Plants in Motion:
http://plantsinmotion.bio.indiana.
edu/plantmotion/earlygrowth/ge
rmination/germ.html

Mackean, D. G. (2010). Biology of Plants:

Seeds and Germination. In
Resources for Biology Teaching.

Weitbrecht, K., Muller, K., & Leubner-

Metzger, G. (2011, March 23). First
off the mark: early seed
germination. Journal of
Experimental Botany, 62(10),
3289–3309.
doi:https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/e
rr030

18