3.6: Understand How Germinating Seeds Utilise Food Reserves until the Seedling can Carry Out Photosynthesis

GERMINATION: Process by which Seed emerges from period of dormancy and begins to sprout

Diagram:

Diagram showing structure of Seed


STRUCTURE:

STRUCTURE	DESCRIPTION
TESTA	Tough outer seed coat that protects embryonic plant
MICROPYLE	Small pore in outer covering of seed that allows passage of Water via osmosis
COTYLEDON	Contains food stores of Starch for Seed and forms embryonic leaves
EPICOTYLE (PLUMULE)	Embryonic shoot
RADICLE	Embryonic Root

UTILISATION OF FOOD RESERVES IN SEEDS

Diagram showing Reaction that occurs in Cotyledon (food reserve)

EXPLANATION: During Germination, the absorption of Water triggers the production of plant hormones, thus stimulating the synthesis of Amylase Amylase breaks down food reserves of Starch found in Cotyledon into Glucose to be used as an energy source for growth via aerobic respiration This continues until Seedling can carry out Photosynthesis as a source of glucose for energy