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Plant Physiology: Germination: Dela Cena, Patricia Beatrice S. Student, City of Mandaluyong Science High School
Plant Physiology: Germination: Dela Cena, Patricia Beatrice S. Student, 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 There are some cases, however,
wherein an intact viable seed fails to
Living organisms have the
complete germination due to unfavorable
capability to reproduce as a means to
circumstances (Bewley, 1997) such as the
ensure their survival. Unlike the
inappropriate amount of saline in its water
organisms from Kingdom Animalia that
supply, the absence of light, or harsh
produce live offsprings, most of the
climate conditions. This is when seed
organisms from Kingdom Plantae produce
dormancy occurs.
embryonic plants enclosed in a protective
outer covering called seeds. These seeds For the sake of simplifying an
are typically dispersed in a dry state and overly complicated process, dormancy
will only thrive when they are not dormant constrains the ability of a seed to properly
and certain environmental conditions are germinate for an extended amount of time.
met. (Weitbrecht, Müller, & Leubner- It prevents pre-harvest germination as
Metzger, 2011) The process by which a well. Vast amounts of studies have been
plant grows from a seed is called dedicated to better understand how the
germination. blockage of germination works due to
environmental conditions and applied
Germination commences when a
chemicals, though still very little about the
seed uptakes water with the appropriate
process is known. (Bentsink & Koorneef,
temperature in the first phase called
2008)
imbibition. (Bewley, 1997) Interim or lag
phase immediately follows imbibition. The concept of germination proves
(Mackean, 2010) Expansion and hydrated to be pivotal in many fields involving
food supplies will then enable the seed’s botany, agriculture, and plants in general.
metabolic activities for the production of For one, understanding seed germination
energy to start its growth and and dormancy is the baseline foundation
development. Water in this case, also of farming and planting especially in
allows the turgor pressure inside the seed countries that have plants as their staple
to intensify; making the outer appearance food, including the Philippines. (Gummert,
of the seed look swollen. The last phase of 2010) The activity then therefore aims to
germination, called root emergence, observe these phenomena in the simplest
consists of having the primary root – way conceivable through the observation
radicle – shoot out of the seed and move of Vigna radiata and Zea mays seeds under
downwards towards the soil for nutrient different conditions thus enabling the
absorption. (Bewley, 1997) The rest of the further comprehension of the concepts
dramatic changes in a seed ensues right that are essential to germination, its
after the primary root takes hold of a phases and seed dormancy.
stable supply of water and is able to
photosynthesize properly.
2
METHODOLOGY RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
PART II
3
Part II:
Z. mays V. radiata
24 hours 50 mL 65 mL
48 hours 51 mL 67 mL
Photoset 1.2: _NC Set-Ups, Day 1
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
4 0.7 1.2 4 0 0
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
12 0.7 1.3 12 0 0
13 0.8 1.5 13 0 0
14 0.4 0.8 14 0 0
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
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.
1 0 0
2 0 0
3 0 0
4 0 0
5 0 0
6 0 0
7 0 0
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
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.
7 0 0
7
Photoset 6.2: _T1 (High Temperature) Set-Ups,
Day 2
1 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
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
1 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
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
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
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
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
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
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 0.14
Tables 12 shows that the Vigna
radiata seeds grew radicles that were at an
6 0.35 0.4 average length of 0.018 cm after the 48-
7 0 0.19 hour mark while Table 13 shows that the
Zea mays seeds’ average radicle length
8 0.13 0.15 equate to 0.07 cm for the 24-hour mark
9 0.06 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.
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
17
REFERENCES
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