Seed germination

andDevelopmen
t
 2n

• Seed dormancy is the

state in which a seed is
unable to germinate,
even under ideal
growing conditions.
• Because dormancy can
be broken by the most
ideal growing conditions
(different and specific for
each species), the seeds
germinate when they are
the most likely to
flourish.
• Dormancy is useful in
survival.
• Plants utilize
dormancy so that
seeds can endure unfavorable conditions • While dormancy can enhance
plant survival in the wild
• There are two different categories of seed dormancy: exogenous and
endogenous (Scarification).
• Exogenous dormancy is caused by conditions outside of the seed’s embryo. - An
example of exogenous dormancy is when the seed coat is too durable for
moisture to infiltrate, effectively preventing germination.
• Endogenous dormancy occurs due to chemical changes within the seed’s
embryo.
- One reason a plant cannot germinate due to endogenous dormancy is that
the embryo is not yet fully developed or specific seasonal cues have not
ensued (Endogenous Dormancy).
• Germination could also be suppressed due to endogenous chemical inhibitors.
The cells of the meristematic tissue divide actively
to form specialized structures such as buds of leaves
and flowers, tips of roots and shoots, etc. These cells
help to increase the length and girth of the plant.
 Lateral
Intercalary
primary tissues

new cells elongate and start to

differentiate into primary tissues

activity at
Shoot apical meristem

activity at
Actively dividing cells near the dome-
meristems
shaped tip
new cells elongate
and start to
differentiate into The apical meristem’s descendant cells
divide, grow and
differentiate to form: Ground meristem
Protoderm Procambium

Root cap
of apical meristems
meristems
Root apical meristem
Function
Apical meristem and primary Apical Procambium
meristem
meristems in a shoot in lateral
bud
Protoderm
Apical meristems and primary

meristems in a root Ground

meristem

Leaf
primordia

Apical meristem
at tip of shoot
Apical meristem Root cap
 What does a meristem
look like?
Coleus
Apical meristem

Transverse section through the apical meristem and

Longitudinal section through the apical meristem newly forming leaves

 Coleus

Axilliary bud meristem

The axilliary meristem may develop into a

foliated branch.

L4 S8
f

ll

e
a

o
ll

f
v

o l

Z
n u

ll

o
e

C
t

M
 Root hair Roots must ‘force’ their
way through the soil

Vascular tissue Ground tissue Protection of the apical

Epidermal tissue

mersitem Delayed

Apical meristem

Sloughed-off
root cap cells initiation of lateral
Root cap

Root
meristem meristems

and
structure
Different requirements
Lateral root
for support and water collection and distribution

Figure 36-17

Zea mays root apex showing the

junction between root apex and
the root cap