Germinating Seeds (Edexcel IGCSE Biology)

Germination

Spec point — 3.6 · understand how germinating seeds utilise food reserves until the seedling can carry out photosynthesis

• The seeds of plants contain:

  • an embryo shoot
  • an embryo root
  • seed leaves, known as cotyledons
  • a food store, containing starch and other nutrients

• During germination the embryo plant begins to grow, using up food reserves from the food store

  • Enzymes inside the seed break down the stored starch in the seed's food store into maltose and then glucose
  • Glucose is used in respiration to release energy for growth of the shoot and the root

• The food store provides nutrients and energy for the growing seedling until larger leaves emerge, at which point photosynthesis can begin and the new plant can produce its own food

Food stores inside seeds provide nutrients needed for the embryo roots and shoots to begin growth