Name: Cindy Joy E.

Jabillo Section:

Biol 127 n

Exercise 5. Seed Structure

A. Draw or take a photo of the seed observed in the laboratory. Label the testa, tegmen,
cotyledon, hilum, radicle, plumule, epicotyl, hypocotyl.

B. Draw or take a photo of monocot (Zea mays) used in the laboratory. Label the pericarp,
endosperm, cotyledon, coleoptile, plumule, coleorhiza, radicle.
Questions to answer:

1. Differentiate Monocot and Dicot seeds based on the criteria below.

Characteristics Monocot Seed
Number of cotyledons One
Cotyledons functions Mainly functions in nutrient
absorption.
Endosperm Often retained in the nature
seed and serves as a
significant source of
nutrients for the developing
embryo and the germinating nutrients to the developing
seedling.
Plumule Enclosed within the
coleoptile.
Coleorhiza Present
Coleoptile Present
Shape and Size Tend to have an elongated or Exhibit diverse shapes,
oval shaped, often cylindrical including round, oval,
or oblong. They are typically
smaller in size, ranging from
a few millimeters to a
centimeter in length.
Seedpod presence Generally do not produce
traditional seedpods, but
instead exhibit a diverse
range of fruit structures for
seed dispersal and
protection.
Germination A single leaf called the
coleoptile emerges first and
pushes through the soil
surface.
Dicot Seed
Two
Have dual roles in nutrient
storage and photosynthesis
Consumed during embryonic
development and, and the
cotyledons take on the role
of storing and providing
seedling.
Positioned between the
cotyledons.
Absent
Absent
kidney- shaped, or irregular
shapes, depending on the
plant species. They are
generally larger compared to
monocot seeds, varying in
size from a few millimeters
to several centimeters.
Present; where they develop
from the ovary after
fertilization.
The embryonic leaves,
known as cotyledons,
typically emerge above the
ground and initiate
photosynthesis.

2. Define the following terms:

a. Seed Imbibition
- Imbibition, the uptake of water by the dry seed, involves absorption of. water by cell
wall and protoplasmic macromolecules, i.e., proteins and. polysaccharides, wherein
water molecules are "held" by electrostatic. forces such as hydrogen bonds.

b. Viviparous germination
 - Viviparous germination is the process in which the seeds germinate while being
attached to the parent plant. The viviparous germination is seen most prevalent in
mangrove plants. Rhizophora plant is the majorly known plant for viviparous
germination.

c. Epigeal germination
- The type of germination in which hypocotyl elongates rapidly and arch upward pulling
the cotyledons which move above the soil is called epigeal germination. Gourd and
castor are examples of epigeal germination.

d. Hypogeal Germination
- Hypogeal germination refers to the type of germination process that happens below
the ground. In this form of germination the cotyledons remain below the soil. The
plumule, or primitive shoot tip, that arises from the seed embryo is visible above
ground.

e. Hypo- epigeal germination

- Hypogeal germination refers to the type of germination process that happens below
the ground. In this form of germination the cotyledons remain below the soil. The
plumule, or primitive shoot tip, that arises from the seed embryo is visible above
ground.

f. Aleurone layer
- The aleurone layer is a specific tissue of cereal endosperm, which due to milling
procedures and tissue properties is mainly associated with bran fractions.

g. Tegmen
- tegmen (plural tegmina) (biology) A covering or integument, usually referring to a thin
layer or membrane in an organism. (botany) An integument such as the inner
membrane of the coat of a seed.

h. Testa
- The outer coat of the seed, whose function is to protect the seed and its contents

i. Hilum
- The outer surface of seed shows a scar or mark called hilum. It represents the point
of attachment of the seed with the seed stalk.

j. Scutellum
- Scutellum is the one large shielded cotyledon of a monocot plant. It is a the first leaf
of monocot plants. It is also known as first primordial leaf. It is present at the lateral
side of the embryonal axis.

k. Embryonal axis
 - The embryonal axis helps the embryo to divide and form the stem of the plant after
maturation. In dicots, the embryonic axis is connected by two cotyledons, but in
monocots, it is connected by a single cotyledon.

l. Perisperm
- nutritive tissue of a seed derived from the nucellus and deposited external to the
embryo sac.

m. Nuclear endosperm
- Endosperm development in which many nuclei develop before cell walls are formed.
n. Cellular endosperm
- A type of endosperm development in which cell walls develop starting with the first
cell division.
O. Helobial endosperm
- Helobial endosperm is an intermediate between nuclear and cellular types. Helobial
endosperm formation is a type of endosperm formation, where a cell wall is laid
down between the first two nuclei, after which one half develops endosperm along
the cellular pattern and the other half along the nuclear pattern.
P. Albuminous Seeds
- Albuminous seed. Seeds are also classified according to the
presence of endosperm. The seeds which contain
endosperm are called as endospermic or albuminous seed.
These seeds have thin and membranous endosperm. The dicot
albuminous seeds are poppy and custard apple.
q. Exalbuminous Seeds
- Exalbuminous seed. The seeds which do not contain endosperm are
called as exalbuminous or non endospermic seeds. The cotyledons of
these seeds store food material and become fleshy. The dicotyledonous
exalbuminous seeds are mango and mustard. The monocot
exalbuminous seeds are vallisneria and orchid.