BIOLOGY INVESTIGATORY

PROJECT
Mechanism of seed sprouting
 BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE
Certified to be the bonafide project work done
by A.AKSHAYASHREE of
Std XII from Greenfield Chennai International
School, Chennai- 600110 during the year
2024-25

Submitted for the SSCE held in the year

2024-25 in Greenfield Chennai International
School

Date Teacher -in-charge

 ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I would like to express my special thanks of

gratitude to my Biology teacher
.....................
for their able guidance and support in
completing my Project.
I would also like to extend my gratitude to
the Principal Mam .................. and
VicePrincipal Sir .................... for providing me
with all the facilities that were required.
I would also like to thank my parents for their support
Above all, I would like to thank the almighty who has
granted me countless blessings and knowledge

DATE:
 INDEX
S.NO TOPIC
1 INTRODUCTION
2 MATERIALS REQUIRED
3 METHOD
4 OBSERVATION
5 RESULT

6 ANANLYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

7 DISCUSSION
8 CONCLUSION
9 BIBLIOGRAPHY
 INTRODUCTION
Seed germination is the fundamental process by which
different plant species grow from a single seed into a
plant.
Factors that are useful for seed germination are water,
oxygen, temperature and light.

Factors affecting seed germination:

External factors -
additional supply of water
inadequate temperature
oxygen deficiency
Internal factors -
seed dormancy

seed dormancy is a condition where the seeds are

prevented from germinating even under favourable
conditions
Causes of seed dormancy
The seed coat that is resistant to water and gases,
restrict water-uptake and oxygen exchange.
The seeds with undeveloped or immature embryo do
not germinate.
Certain seeds contain plant growth regulators,
which inhibit seed germination.
Some seeds require more time for their germination.

Process of seed germination

Imbibition: The process begins with imbibition, where
the seed rapidly absorbs water. This results in the
swelling and softening of the seed coat at an optimum
temperature. Activation of enzymes occurs during this
stage, initiating growth.
Lag Phase: The seed activates its internal
physiology, starts respiration, produces proteins,
and metabolizes stored food. This phase sets the
groundwork for further development.
Radicle Emergence: The seed coat ruptures,
allowing the radicle (primary root) to emerge. The
seed begins absorbing underground water.
Shoot Growth: After the radicle and plumule
(embryonic shoot) emerge, the shoot starts growing
upwards.
Seedling Formation: In the final stage, the seed’s
cells become metabolically active, elongate, and
divide, giving rise to the seedling. There are
different ways used for seed germination, we here
use “paper towel method” to generate the seeds
 Materials required

A square of paper towel

water
plastic zip lock bag or a cling wrap
 METHOD

Select seeds to germinate

soak the paper using a spray bottle
Place the seeds on the paper making enough
space in between them
Now fold the paper or use another paper to
cover them
Then place the paper in a sealed plastic bag or
on a plate.
Check the seeds daily and keep them moist as
possible. Transfer the seeds to soil once they
have roots and shoots
 OBSERVATION
Swelling of Seed Coat:
When seeds are exposed to moisture, the seed coat (also
known as the testa) absorbs water and swells. This
swelling helps to weaken the seed coat and allows the
embryo to emerge.
Radicle Emergence:
The radicle is the first part of the embryo to emerge
from the seed. It is the embryonic root.
As the radicle elongates, it pushes through the softened
seed coat and into the soil.
Plumule Development:
The plumule is the embryonic shoot that develops into
the stem and leaves.
It remains within the seed until the radicle has fully
emerged.
Once the radicle is established, the plumule begins to
grow upward.
Cotyledon Expansion:
Cotyledons are the seed leaves. They store nutrients
for the growing seedling.
As the plumule grows, the cotyledons expand and
become visible above the soil surface.
The number of cotyledons varies depending on the
type of plant (monocotyledons have one cotyledon,
while dicotyledons have two).
Greening of Cotyledons:
Cotyledons contain chlorophyll, which allows them to
photosynthesize.
As they emerge from the soil, they turn green and
start producing energy through photosynthesis.
Shoot Elongation:
The plumule continues to elongate, pushing upward
and eventually breaking through the soil surface.
The shoot system
Root Growth:
The radicle continues to elongate downward, branching
into smaller roots.
These roots anchor the seedling and absorb water and
nutrients from the soil.
Seedling Establishment:
Once the seedling has emerged from the soil, it
establishes itself and begins independent growth.
Leaves continue to develop, and the seedling
transitions into a young plant.
 RESULT

Calculate the percentage of seeds that sprouted

GP= GERMINATED/TOTAL SEEDS X100

Record the time it took for the seeds to germinate

ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION

Seed germination analysis examines several key factors to

understand the process and improve germination rates. These
include:

Seed quality: The physical and physiological state of the

seeds are considered.
Environmental conditions: Factors such as temperature,
moisture, light, and oxygen availability affect germination.
Hormonal balance: The levels of hormones like abscisic acid
(ABA), gibberellins (GA), and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)
that regulate the germination process.
Metabolic changes: The metabolic pathways and metabolites
involved in transitioning from dormancy to active growth.
Genetic factors: The genetic makeup of the seed that
influences its germination characteristics.
Germination Potential: This is determined by evaluating the
percentage of seeds that are normal and can germinate,
considering factors like freshness, hardness, and the presence
of dead seeds1.
Foreign Seed Content: A defined amount of seed is tested for
foreign seeds, which are then counted and identified
botanically1.
Germination Vigour: This measures the speed and uniformity of
seed germination, which is crucial for crop establishment2.
Thousand Kernel Weight: This indicates the weight of a
thousand seeds and is used as an indicator of seed size and
potential yield2.
Mechanical Damage: The extent of physical damage to seeds,
which can affect their ability to germinate and grow2.
Disease Diagnostic Profile: Identifying any diseases present in
the seed lot that could affect germination and plant health
 DISCUSSION
seed germination involves exploring the various stages
that contribute to the successful emergence of a
seedling
Imbibition: This is the initial stage where the seed
absorbs water, leading to swelling and the
activation of metabolic processes.
Respiration: Following imbibition, the seed’s
metabolism resumes, initially anaerobically and then
aerobically as oxygen enters the seed.
Effect of Light: Some seeds require light to
germinate (positive photoblastic), while others are
inhibited by light (negative photoblastic), and some
are indifferent to light (non-photoblastic).
Mobilization of Reserves: The stored nutrients
within the seed are mobilized to support the growth
of the embryo into a seedling.
 CONCLUSION
seed germination is a complex biological process that
marks the beginning of a plant’s life cycle. It involves the
absorption of water, activation of metabolism, and
growth of the embryo into a seedling. Factors such as
temperature, moisture, light, and hormonal balance play
crucial roles in this process. Understanding these factors
and the stages of germination can help in optimizing
conditions for successful seedling emergence, which is
essential for agriculture and horticulture.
 BIBLIOGRAPHY

plantpropagation.org
www.google.com
text book of previous grades