Germination

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Germination

Germination (/dʒɜːrmɪˈneɪʃən/; from Latin germinare meaning "to sprout") is the process by which an organism grows from a seed or similar structure. The term is applied to the sprouting of a seedling from a seed of an angiosperm or gymnosperm, the growth of a sporeling from a spore, such as the spore of a fungus, or the growth of the young sporophyte of a fern or moss from the germinated spore.

Etymology

The term "germination" comes from the Latin word germinare, which means "to sprout". This term was first used in the 17th century to describe the process of a plant emerging and growing from a seed.

Process

The process of germination begins with the absorption of water by the seed, known as imbibition. This triggers the seed to release certain enzymes that begin the growth process. The seed's embryo then begins to grow and break through the seed coat. The first part of the plant that emerges from the seed is the root, followed by the shoot that contains the leaves and stem.

Related Terms

  • Seed: The mature fertilized plant ovule, consisting of an embryo and its food source and having a protective coat.
  • Embryo: The part of a seed that develops into a plant, consisting of root tip, stem tip, and cotyledons.
  • Imbibition: The absorption of water, causing swelling and the initiation of germination.
  • Angiosperms: A plant that has flowers and produces seeds enclosed within a carpel.
  • Gymnosperms: A plant that has seeds unprotected by an ovary or fruit.
  • Spore: A minute, typically one-celled, reproductive unit capable of giving rise to a new individual without sexual fusion.
  • Fungi: Any of a group of unicellular, multicellular, or syncytial spore-producing organisms feeding on organic matter.
  • Fern: A flowerless plant that has feathery or leafy fronds and reproduces by spores released from the undersides of the fronds.
  • Moss: A small flowerless green plant that lacks true roots, growing in low carpets or rounded cushions in damp habitats.

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