Adventist Youth Honors Answer

Book/Nature/Seeds
Seeds

Nature Skill Level 1

General Conference
See also Seeds - Advanced Year of Introduction: 1961

Contents

1. What is the main purpose of a seed?

The main purpose of a seed is to grow a new plant, thus propagating the species.

2. What foods were first given to man in the Garden of Eden?

Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has
fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. Genesis 1:29

3. Identify from a seed or drawing and know the purpose of each of

these parts of a seed: seed coat, cotyledon, embryo.
Seed Coat - The seed coat is the covering which
encloses the seed (small embryonic plant, usually with
some stored food).
Cotyledon - This is a significant part of the embryo
within the seed of a plant. Upon germination, the
cotyledon becomes the embryonic first leaves of a
seedling.
Embryo - A seed embryo includes the cotyledon
which becomes the plant's first leaves, the epicotyl (not
shown), which becomes the shoot above the leaves,
the hypocotyl which becomes the plant's stem, and the
radicle which becomes the plant's root.

Parts of a seed
4. List from memory four different methods by which seeds are
scattered. Name three kinds of plants whose seeds are scattered by
each method.

Gravity

The effect of gravity on the dispersal of seeds and spores is straightforward. Heavier seeds will tend to drop
downward from the parent plant, and not by themselves travel very far. Spores, being much lighter, are more
influenced by physical movements in the environment, especially those of wind and water, and therefore less
strictly subject to the simple motion of gravity (see examples below). Gravity may be sufficient agent for plants
growing on steep slopes, but upslope movement of a population can be a problem. The naked seeds of
gymnosperms are largely dependent upon gravity for dispersal. Most conifers are long-lived large shrubs or tall
trees, thus taking full advantage of gravitational dispersal and allowing for gradual upslope movement of a
population. Dispersal of seeds "strictly" by gravity should not overlook storm effects: seeds from a
deteriorating cone growing high on a tall, narrow tree will get spread widely during a wind storm (see "Wind"
below).

Encasing seeds in a rounded fruit promotes gravity driven movement away from the parent.

Ferns
Pine trees
Spruce trees
Fir trees
Junipers
Cedars
Hemlocks

Mechanical dispersal

Numerous species have mechanical means to overcome the tendency of a seed to drop close to its parent.
Seedpods are often shaped so that the seeds are flung away from the parent plant with considerable force as
the seedpod matures

Examples of fruit with mechanical dispersal mechanisms:

Yellow wood sorrel and Touch-me-not – as the seed dries, becomes sensitive to disturbance,
ejecting tiny seeds in an explosive discharge. Touch-me-not is named for this behavior.
Maple trees - the seeds of the Maple tree are those little "helicopters" that children love to play
with. As the seeds falls, the wings cause it to rotate, slowing its descent, and thus allowing a
breeze to carry it farther from the parent. When the seed strikes the ground, it bores into the soil.

Wind

For non-aquatic, terrestrial plants, the wind is an obvious supplier of energy for movement, and many plants
clearly take advantage of this fact. This type of seed dispersal is not efficient, but very effective. Perhaps most
familiar are the feather-light fiber parachutes with attached achenes that are produced by a number of species
of flowers, a well-known example being the dandelion (see right).
 Milkweed
Thistles
Dandelions

Water

Plants that grow in water (aquatic and obligate wetland species) are likely
to utilize water to disperse their seeds. For example, all mangroves Dandelion "clock," showing brown
disperse their offspring by water. In one mechanism, the seedling achenes and attached pappuses.
separates from the fruit, leaving its cotyledons behind, and—floating
horizontally on the water surface—is carried away by tidal or river flow.
After a month or two, the propagated seed turns vertical in the water. Once it "feels" bottom or strands, roots
start to develop and leaves appear at the upper end.

A mechanism commonly seen in coastal plants are those that promote flotation of the fruit, allowing the seed to
be carried away on the tide or ocean currents. Examples would be:

The coconut produces a large, dry, fiber-filled fruit capable of a long survival adrift at sea.
Alexandrian laurel or kamani produces a globose fruit that is almost cork-like.

Animals

A significant aspect of plant-animal cooperation involves plants

designed to take advantage of animal abilities to move. Some fruit
have prickly burrs or spikes that attach themselves to a passing
animal's fur or feathers so that the animal will carry them away. Some
seeds are contained within a soft fruit that "invites" animals to
consume it. These seeds have a tough protective outer-coating so that
while the fruit is digested, the seeds will pass through their host's
digestive tract intact, and grow wherever they fall. Some seeds are A barbed seed caught in the fur of a
appealing to rodents (such as squirrels) who hoard them in hidden cat.
caches, often beneath the surface of the soil, in order to avoid starving
during the winter and early spring. Those seeds that are left uneaten
have the chance to germinate and grow into a new plant.

Some animals that disperse may also eat the seed.

Beggarlice
Cockle burr
Apple
Banana
Seeds are often the bane of
Strawberry bushwalkers
Oak (acorns)

5. List from memory ten kinds of seeds that we use for food.
This list does not include the dozens of seeds used as spices (coriander, cumin, etc.), nor does it include seeds
which are incidentally eaten as part of a fruit (strawberry, banana). However, you should accept such answers
if they are given.
 1. Almond
2. Amaranth
3. Barley
4. Brazil nut
5. Buckwheat
6. Cashew
7. Chestnut
8. Chickpea (garbanzo)
9. Cocoa
10. Coconut
11. Corn
12. Cowpea (Blackeye pea)
13. Filbert (Hazelnut)
14. Flax
15. Green bean
16. Lentil
17. Lima bean
18. Macadamia
19. Millet
20. Mustard
21. Navy bean
22. Oat
23. Pea
24. Peanut
25. Pecan
26. Pine nut
27. Pinto bean
28. Pistachio
29. Pomegranate
30. Pumpkin
31. Quinoa
32. Rice
33. Rye
34. Sesame
35. Soybean
36. Sorghum / Milo
37. Sunflower
38. Teff (found in Ethiopia)
39. Walnut
40. Wheat
41. Wild Rice
42. White bean
6. List from memory five kinds of seeds that are used as sources of
oil.
1. Coconut
2. Corn
3. Cottonseed
4. Canola oil (a variety of rapeseed oil)
5. Grapeseed
6. Olive
7. Palm
8. Peanut
9. Safflower
10. Sesame
11. Soybean
12. Sunflower

7. List from memory five kinds of seeds that are used for spices.
1. Anise
2. Caraway
3. Cardamom
4. Cocoa
5. Coriander
6. Cumin
7. Dill
8. Fennel
9. Nutmeg
10. Mustard
11. Vanilla
12. pimento

8. What conditions are necessary for a seed to sprout?

Requirements for seed germination

Seed germination depends on many factors, both internal and external. The most important external factors
include: water, oxygen, temperature, and the correct soil conditions. Every variety of seed requires a different
set of variables for successful germination. This depends greatly on the individual seed variety and is closely
linked to the ecological conditions in the plants' natural habitat.

Water

Germination requires moist conditions. Mature seeds are usually very dry and need to take up significant
amounts of water before they can "come back to life." The uptake of water into seeds leads to a marked
swelling. The pressure caused by water aids in cracking the seed coat for germination. When seeds are formed,
most plants store large amounts of food, such as starch, proteins, or oils, for the embryo inside the seed. When
the seed absorbs water,it stores food resources and allows the seedling to germinate and grow until it reaches
the light. Once the seedling starts growing, it requires a continuous supply of water and nutrients.

Oxygen

Most seeds respond best when water levels are enough to moisten the seeds but not soak them, and when
oxygen is readily available. Once the seed coat is cracked, the germinating seedling requires oxygen. If the soil
is waterlogged, it might cut off the necessary oxygen supply and prevent the seed from germinating.

Temperature and light

Seeds germinate over a wide range of temperatures, with many preferring temperatures slightly higher than
room-temperature. Often, seeds have a set temperature range for sprouting and will not sprout above or below
a certain temperature. In addition, some seeds may require exposure to light or to cold temperature to break
dormancy before they can germinate. As long as the seed is in its dormant state, it will not germinate even if
conditions are favorable. For example, seeds requiring the cold of winter are inhibited from germinating if they
never experience frost. Some seeds will only germinate when temperatures reach hundreds of degrees, as
during a forest fire. Without fire, they are unable to crack their seed coats. Many seeds in forest settings will
not germinate until an opening in the canopy allows then to receive sufficient light for the growing seedling.

Stratification

Seeds must be mature and environmental factors must be

favorable before germination can take place. When a mature seed
is placed under favorable conditions and fails to germinate, it is
said to be dormant. Some seeds will not germinate (begin to
grow) until they have been dormant for a while. The length of
time plant seeds remain dormant can be reduced or eliminated by
a simple seed treatment called stratification. Seeds should be
planted promptly after stratification.

Stratification mimics natural processes that weaken the seed coat

before germination. In nature, some seeds require particular Malted (germinated) barley grains
conditions to germinate, such as the heat of a fire (e.g., many
Australian native plants), or soaking in a body of water for a long
period of time. Others have to be passed through an animal's digestive tract to weaken the seed coat and enable
germination.

9. Make a collection of 30 different kinds of seeds, of which only 10

may be collected from commercial seed packages, the other 20 you
are to collect yourself. Label each kind as follows: seed name, date
collected, location collected, and collector’s name.
Seeds are all around you. You can find them in many fruits, such as apples, oranges, pears, grapefruit,
tangerines, strawberries, lemons. They are also present in many vegetables, such as cucumber, squash,
pumpkin, corn (use popcorn for your collection), and beans of all varieties. Take a stroll through the produce
section of a grocery store and buy some of these foods. It is especially fun to try new and unusual fruits and
vegetables.

Flowers also make seeds, so you can collect seeds from flowers that you already may have growing in your
flower bed.

You can also collect various seeds in the wild, including grass seeds, milkweed, acorns (and other nuts),
clover, goldenrod, etc.

Once you have exhausted these sources, go to the seed section of a store or a nursery. This should be reserved
as a last resort.

References
Wikipedia articles
Seeds
Germination
Biological dispersion

Retrieved from "https://en.wikibooks.org/w/index.php?

title=Adventist_Youth_Honors_Answer_Book/Nature/Seeds&oldid=3650932"

This page was last edited on 8 January 2020, at 04:59.

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.; additional terms may apply. By using this
site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.