Seeds

Seeds are the fertilized, matured ovule of gymnosperms and angiosperms, containing an embryo and capable under favorable conditions of germinating to produce a new plant.

Structure of Seeds

A seed is composed of a seed coat, embryo, and stored food. The seed coat, derived from the ovule's integuments, surrounds and protects the embryo. The embryo is the young multicellular organism before it emerges from the seed. The stored food supplies nutrients to the germinating seedling.

Types of Seeds

Seeds can be broadly classified into two types: monocots and dicots. Monocots have one seed leaf (cotyledon), while dicots have two. This difference in the number of cotyledons is the basis for the two major classifications of flowering plants.

Seed Dispersal

Seed dispersal is the movement or transport of seeds away from the parent plant. It can be achieved through various means, including wind, water, animals, and ballistic dispersal.

Seed Germination

Germination is the process by which a dormant seed begins to sprout and grow into a seedling under the right growing conditions. The most common example of germination is the sprouting of a seedling from a seed of an angiosperm or gymnosperm.

Economic Importance of Seeds

Seeds are of great economic importance, especially in the case of food crops such as wheat, rice, maize, and legumes. They are also used in the production of many other types of goods, including oils, beverages, spices, and industrial products.

See Also

• Plant reproduction
• Fruit
• Seedling
• Seed bank
• Seed dormancy