GERMINATION OF SEEDS

1-. DEFINE THE TERM GERMINATION

Germination is the process of seeds developing into new plants.
When water is plentiful, the seed fills with water in a process
called imbibition. The water activates special proteins,
called enzymes, that begin the process of seed growth. First the seed
grows a root to access water underground. Next, the shoots, or
growth above ground, begin to appear. The seed sends a shoot
towards the surface, where it will grow leaves to harvest energy from
the sun.

2-. CONDITIONS REQUIRED FOR GERMINATION

A. External Factors:
1. Water: Water is of primary importance .in germination. A water-
soaked seed will germinate; actual submergence may be harmful.
When protoplasm absorbs the water, seed resumes vigorous
physiological activities. The embryo bursts through the seed coats
which are softened by imbibition of water.
2. Oxygen: In a germinating seed respiration and other physiological
activities are more vigorous, hence oxygen is essential.
3. Suitable Temperature: Seeds usually germinate between 0°C to
50°C and the optimum usually lies between 25°C to 30°C.
B. Internal factors:
4. Foods and growth regulators: Food is necessary for growing
embryo. This comes from cotyledons or endosperm. Some growth
regulators are required for growth during germination.
5. Completion of rest period: Many seeds do not germinate
immediately after harvest but undergo a period of rest which varies
from plant to plant.
6. Viability: Viability is the germinating capacity of the seeds.
Sometimes even perfectly viable seeds will not germinate even after
being provided with suitable conditions of germination. Such condition
is called dormancy. Dormancy may be due to hard seed coat
impermeable to oxygen or water or there may be a low temperature
requirement or the embryo may be immature at the time of harvest
etc.

3-. STRUCTURAL CHANGES DURING THE PROCESS OF

GERMINATION
This is an example with Conidia.
Conidia of Penicillium griseofulvum Dierckx have been examined by
electron-microscopy at a series of stages throughout the course of
germination. The conidia have two-layered walls but during
germination a third, inner wall layer appears which may be quite
distinct or rather indistinct according to the composition of the
germination medium. The germ-tube wall is continuous with this third
spore-wall layer only. Ungerminated conidia contain a nucleus and
mitochondria. During swelling, mitochondria increase in size and
become lobed, endoplasmic reticulum becomes visible, and vacuoles
are formed. Septa formed in germ-tubes are perforate and have
Woronin bodies associated with them. The structural changes during
germination can be correlated with changes in physiological
behaviour of the germinating conidia.

4-. GRAPHICS