Formation of Seedling

Reproduction is a biological process in which a new individual organism is created by the union of two existing individuals. In general, plants reproduce either asexually, that is, without the generation of seeds, or sexually, that is, with the formation of seeds. The portions of plants that are involved in asexual reproduction are referred to as vegetative parts (for example, leaves, roots, and stems), and the parts of plants that are involved in sexual reproduction are referred to as reproductive parts (for example, flowers) (e.g., a flower).

Seed Formation 

A seed is generated when a fertilised ovule divides during the process of mitosis. When grown under appropriate conditions, it can store food and have the potential to evolve into a new species of plant.

It is the process of combining a male gamete with a female gamete to generate a zygote that is called fertilisation. Pollen grains are carried to the stigma by a variety of pollination agents, including water, wind, butterflies, insects, mammals, birds, and other flying insects, among others. When the male gametes reach the stigma of the ovule, they fuse with the egg in the ovule to generate a zygote. Fertilization takes happen as a result, and the newly formed zygote splits and matures into an embryo.

Following fertilisation, every portion of the flower, with the exception of the ovary, sheds. The ovary of the flower grows into the fruit, whilst the ovules of the flower develop into the seeds of the plant. With the generation of seed, the process of reproduction in plants comes to an end. The budding embryo develops and matures within the seed during its development.

The Physical Characteristics of a Seed

Despite the fact that the anatomy of seeds from different plants can differ in a variety of ways, the basic anatomy remains the same. Following are the components of a typical seed: Tesla (electric motor);

Essentially, this is the seed’s outer coat, which serves as a protective barrier for the developing plant within.

• Micropyle

On the other side of the radical’s tip, there’s a little pore in the Testa that’s been created by the radical. It allows water to enter the embryo before active germination takes place.

• Hilum

Hilum are scars caused by the stalk that joined the ovule to the ovary wall before it developed into a seed and became visible.

• Cotyledon

The endosperm of some plants, which contains a large amount of starch, acts as a food supply for the growing embryo prior to germination; in other plants, the endosperm serves in this capacity. In monocotyledons, there is only one cotyledon, whereas in dicotyledons, there are two cotyledons.

Depending on the type of germination, the cotyledons may remain underground or be dragged above the surface of the earth (epigeous or hypogeous).

• Radicle

The embryonic root will eventually mature and become the plant’s main root structure. In most cases, it is the first component of the embryo to emerge from the seed when germination occurs.

• Plumule

A plumule is the name given to the embryonic shoot. It appears as a bud, which will later develop into a shoot and the remainder of the plant’s structures as the plant grows.

• Endosperm

Many plants have a unique component known as the endosperm, which is responsible for starch storage. It can be found in both maize and wheat, as well as other grains.

Seed Performs a Specific Function

The seeds perform the following functions: 

• They aid in the sprouting of new plants by providing nutrients and oxygen.
• cotyledons and endosperm are present in the seeds, which serve as food storage organs for the plant.
• The embryo inside the seed is protected by the seed coat, which serves as a barrier.
• It is essential to plant seeds because they protect the embryo plant, which helps it to develop after it has found appropriate soil to grow in.
• Seeds serve as a protective structure for plant embryos, allowing them to survive for an extended period of time before germinating.
• A seed can remain dormant until the embryo’s developing conditions are favourable. 
• To meet the nutritional requirements of embryos throughout their early stages of development, food sources for plant embryos are bundled in seeds.
• Creatures, the wind, birds, and other animals are capable of transporting seeds swiftly, allowing the plant to colonise a large area quickly. Some of them are capable of being carried wherever by the wind.
• Seeds can live in the absence of water, allowing the plant to survive in the event of a drought.
• Seeds are produced in large quantities in order for plants to reproduce successfully.

Conclusion

It is possible that humans will not always plant the seeds that have produced and fallen to the ground. They are disseminated by a variety of sources, including wind, water, animals and so on.

For optimum growth, seeds require a suitable amount of sunlight, water, space, and minerals. Plants grow more vigorously when their seeds are distributed in different locations, which eliminates the problem of competing for basic nutrients and results in the plant growing more vigorously.

Seed distribution occurs both naturally and intentionally, depending on the situation.