Seed facts

Seeds are the matured ovules. Mature seeds of different plants show great variation in shape, size and appearance.

• The outer portion of the seed which gives protection is called the seeds coat or testa.
• On removing the seed coat, we can see two fleshy cotyledons which stores the food for the growing plant.
• A short curved axis is present to which the cotyledons are attached. It has two parts, the plumule which develops into shoot and the radicle which develops into root.

Under appropriate conditions of moisture, warmth and air, the seed germinates to produce a new plant.

Root Facts...

We know that roots are the underground, non-green part of the plant which provides anchorage to the plant.

The main functions of the roots are fixation of the plant firmly to the soil and absorption of water and minerals from the soil . In some cases, the roots are modified to perform specialized functions such as storage and support.

Roots are also of different kinds. They are ,

• Tap roots
• Fibrous roots
• Adventitious roots

Tap root system consists of a prominent main root and many smaller roots emerging from it called the lateral roots. Small fine hair like outgrowths that are present in the lateral root are called root hairs which are responsible for the absorption of water and nutrients from the soil. Dicot plants have tap root system.

Fibrous roots are bunch of roots of similar size. These roots spread out in all directions. Monocot plants have fibrous root system.

Adventitious roots are roots that do not grow from the radicle. They grow from various areas of the plant.