● In angiosperms, the seed is the final product of `color{Violet}"sexual reproduction"`.
● It is often described as a `color{Violet}"fertilised ovule"`.
● `color{Violet}"Seeds"` are formed `color{Violet}"inside fruits"`.
● A seed typically consists of `color{Violet}"seed coat"`(s), `color{Violet}"cotyledon"`(s) and an `color{Violet}"embryo axis"` or may or may not contain endosperm.
● The `color{Violet}"cotyledons"` of the embryo are simple structures, generally `color{Violet}"thick and swollen"` due to storage of food reserves (as in legumes).
● Mature seeds may be non-albuminous or albuminous.
`star` Non-albuminous seeds have `color{Violet}"no residual endosperm"` as it is completely consumed during embryo development (e.g., pea, groundnut).
`star` Albuminous seeds retain a part of endosperm as it is `color{Violet}"not completely used"` up during embryo development (e.g., wheat, maize, barley, castor, sunflower).
● Occasionally,in some seeds such as black pepper and beet, `color{Violet}"remnants of nucellus"` are also persistent.
● This residual, `color{Violet}"persistent nucellus"` is the `color{Violet}"perisperm"`.
● `color{Violet}"Integuments"` of ovules harden as tough protective `color{Violet}"seed coat"`.
● The `color{Violet}"micropyle"` remains as a `color{Violet}"small pore"` in the seed coat.
● This facilitates `color{Violet}"entry"` of `color{Violet}"oxygen"` and `color{Violet}"water"` into the seed during germination.
● As the `color{Violet}"seed matures"`, its water content is `color{Violet}"reduced"` and seeds become `color{Violet}"relatively dry"` (10-15 per cent moisture by mass).
● The general `color{Violet}"metabolic activity"` of the embryo `color{Violet}"slows down"`.
● The embryo may enter a state of `color{Violet}"inactivity"` called `color{Violet}"dormancy"`, or if favourable conditions are available (adequate moisture, oxygen and suitable temperature), they `color{Violet}"germinate"`.
● As `color{Violet}"ovules"` mature into `color{Violet}"seeds"`, the `color{Violet}"ovary"` develops into a `color{Violet}"fruit"`, i.e., the transformation of ovules into seeds and ovary into fruit proceeds simultaneously.
● The `color{Violet}"wall of the ovary"` develops into the wall of fruit called `color{Violet}"pericarp"`.
● In angiosperms, the seed is the final product of `color{Violet}"sexual reproduction"`.
● It is often described as a `color{Violet}"fertilised ovule"`.
● `color{Violet}"Seeds"` are formed `color{Violet}"inside fruits"`.
● A seed typically consists of `color{Violet}"seed coat"`(s), `color{Violet}"cotyledon"`(s) and an `color{Violet}"embryo axis"` or may or may not contain endosperm.
● The `color{Violet}"cotyledons"` of the embryo are simple structures, generally `color{Violet}"thick and swollen"` due to storage of food reserves (as in legumes).
● Mature seeds may be non-albuminous or albuminous.
`star` Non-albuminous seeds have `color{Violet}"no residual endosperm"` as it is completely consumed during embryo development (e.g., pea, groundnut).
`star` Albuminous seeds retain a part of endosperm as it is `color{Violet}"not completely used"` up during embryo development (e.g., wheat, maize, barley, castor, sunflower).
● Occasionally,in some seeds such as black pepper and beet, `color{Violet}"remnants of nucellus"` are also persistent.
● This residual, `color{Violet}"persistent nucellus"` is the `color{Violet}"perisperm"`.
● `color{Violet}"Integuments"` of ovules harden as tough protective `color{Violet}"seed coat"`.
● The `color{Violet}"micropyle"` remains as a `color{Violet}"small pore"` in the seed coat.
● This facilitates `color{Violet}"entry"` of `color{Violet}"oxygen"` and `color{Violet}"water"` into the seed during germination.
● As the `color{Violet}"seed matures"`, its water content is `color{Violet}"reduced"` and seeds become `color{Violet}"relatively dry"` (10-15 per cent moisture by mass).
● The general `color{Violet}"metabolic activity"` of the embryo `color{Violet}"slows down"`.
● The embryo may enter a state of `color{Violet}"inactivity"` called `color{Violet}"dormancy"`, or if favourable conditions are available (adequate moisture, oxygen and suitable temperature), they `color{Violet}"germinate"`.
● As `color{Violet}"ovules"` mature into `color{Violet}"seeds"`, the `color{Violet}"ovary"` develops into a `color{Violet}"fruit"`, i.e., the transformation of ovules into seeds and ovary into fruit proceeds simultaneously.
● The `color{Violet}"wall of the ovary"` develops into the wall of fruit called `color{Violet}"pericarp"`.