Germination re-cap

• Biology
• Lower Secondary (Key Stage 3)

Germination re-cap

What is germination?

Young Root

Young shoot

food source

Seed Coat

The seed 

The seed coat is the hard, protective covering of the seed and protects it from fungal and bacterial pathogens. The embryo is the new plant inside the seed and is made up of four parts: epicotyl, hypocotyl, radicle and cotyledon.

 The epicotyl is the tiny shoot of the embryo and will eventually grow into the leaves. 

The radicle becomes the first roots of the developing plant and is the first part of the embryo to appear after germination and grows downwards into the soil

 Cotyledons are the first leaves that come out of the seed. The hypocotyl becomes the initial stem of the developing plant. 

What is the purpose of the seed coat?

1. Provides nutrients to the seed
2. Protects the seed from pathogens
3. Helps the seed grow faster
4. Makes the seed colorful

What does the epicotyl become?

1. Seed coat
2. Leaves of the plant
3. Cotyledons
4. Roots of the plant

Which part grows first after germination?

1. Hypocotyl
2. Radicle
3. Cotyledon
4. Epicotyl

What do cotyledons represent?

1. First leaves of the seed
2. Roots of the plant
3. Initial stem of the plant
4. Seed coat

What does the hypocotyl become?

1. Initial stem of the plant
2. First leaves
3. Seed coat
4. Root system

Why might you need to soak seeds before they germinate?

What part of the leaf contains chlorophyll?

1. Chloroplast
2. Spongy mesophyll
3. Upper epidermis
4. Lower epidermis

What is the function of the upper epidermis?

1. Stores water
2. Conducts photosynthesis
3. Absorbs sunlight
4. Protects the leaf surface

Where does gas exchange occur in leaves?

1. Upper epidermis
2. Spongy mesophyll
3. Chloroplast
4. Lower epidermis

What is the lower epidermis responsible for?

1. Water storage
2. Gas exchange
3. Photosynthesis
4. Light absorption

What is the purpose of chloroplasts?

1. Protects leaf
2. Transports water
3. Conducts photosynthesis
4. Stores nutrients

Why are moisture and temperature levels important to germination?

Why is it important that seeds store a food source? What biological process can seeds not do?

Where do humans get their main source of glucose (sugar from)?
(Think about what horticulture means)