The main conditions for germination of the seed

The variety of living organisms and the features of their structure and life activity are studied by biology. Conditions for the germination of seeds are examined by its branch, called botany, which includes a section - the physiology of plants. The main conditions necessary for germination of seeds are the optimum temperature, humidity, free air access, a sufficient number of nutrients for the development of the embryo, and also the mode of illumination. They will be considered below.

What conditions are necessary for germination of seeds

The seed is formed from the seed rudiment and angiosperms are formed as a result of double fertilization discovered by S. Navashin in 1861. Its germination occurs at the moment of falling into the optimal conditions of the external environment, called abiotic factors. The embryo contained in the seed and consisting of a root and stem with embryonic leaves begins to grow, with the seminal peel bursting and the seed seed appears first. It strengthens in the soil and begins to suck in water and solutions of mineral salts necessary for the further development of the embryo.

In addition to these substances, organic substances such as starch, proteins and fats are needed to germinate the seed and grow it. Their fetus is obtained either from cotyledons (in dicotyledonous plants, for example, peas, cucumbers, tomatoes, cabbage), or directly from the endosperm found in semen in monocotyledonous plants (wheat, rice, rye). Thus, favorable abiotic factors and the availability of nutrients are conditions necessary for the germination of seeds.

Physiological mechanisms of seed germination

If this task is set before you: describe the role of the conditions necessary for the germination of seeds, we advise starting with the illumination of the physiological aspects of these processes, scientifically explaining the main conditions necessary for the development of the embryo. So, germination is called the transition of the seed from the state of rest to the vegetative growth of the embryo, which ends with the formation of a seedling from it.

Seeds of some plants can germinate immediately or a short time after ripening. In many tree species, for example, in gymnosperms - spruce, pine, cedar, and in most forest grassy plants, the seeds have a long period of rest and germinate only after 1-2 years or more. This time interval is very important. Thus, in plants of temperate latitudes, germination is stimulated by low winter temperatures. Such an environmental factor, as illumination, does not always influence the germination conditions of seeds, since most of them develop in the dark.

Optimum temperature value

The most important conditions for seed germination are favorable abiotic factors, among which temperature performs one of the main functions. In agronomy, plants are classified as cold-resistant and thermophilic. This differentiation also applies to seeds. Some, for example, seeds of carrots, lettuce, onions, germinate at low plus temperatures, others (pumpkin, tomatoes, cucumbers) require that the soil warms up to a temperature of +10 - +12 degrees.

In vegetable growing, this method is often used to increase the germination of seeds, as their heating. To do this, you can use electrical appliances, and seeds of plants of the family of pumpkin: cucumbers, zucchini, watermelons, legumes (beans, peas, soy) are soaked in water with a temperature of 35-45 ° C, and then, after cooling, dry. Warming the seeds one to two weeks before sowing into the soil increases the energy of their germination, preventing the delay of vegetation, increases the yield.

The role of moisture in germination of seeds

Continuing to study the conditions necessary for the germination of seeds, let us dwell on the significance of water. Its presence in the soil provides the processes of swelling of the seed coat, activation of hydrolysis of starch. The very process of germination begins with the moment of seed absorption by a large volume of water, which flows directly to the embryo. His cells actively absorb the glucose solution and begin to quickly divide, which contributes to the growth of the embryonic rootlet. For example, beet seeds absorb water 1.2 times more than their mass, and clover - 1.5 times. In household plots, a method of soaking seeds in water is widely used to achieve germination of the embryonic root.

The effect of oxygen on the development of seed

Considering the main conditions for germination of seeds, we note the need for free air access, which is used to provide the processes of intensive respiration of moist seeds. In agriculture, bubbling is often used: mixing seeds in water under the influence of oxygen or air supplied from the compressor. The seeds with the lowest germination energy (carrots, parsnips, onions) are most often bubbled.

What is EM technology?

If we ask the modern agrarians to determine the conditions for seed germination, then in response, in addition to all known abiotic factors, we will hear a proposal to use microbiological preparations, for example, such as "Baikal EM-1" containing lactic acid, photosynthesizing microorganisms and fungi, for example , Yeast. In the solution of this preparation, soaked seeds prepared for planting for 2-3 hours. This technology stimulates growth processes and enhances the energy of germination of seeds, and also increases the immunity of plants to agricultural pests and increases yield.

Scarification of seeds

To consider all the conditions of seed germination, it is necessary to stop on such a method as scarification (artificial damage to the seed coat by hand). To do this, use a mixture of seeds with coarse-grained sand or metal filings. As a result of grinding, the seed peel is damaged. Thanks to this method, the water necessary for the germination of the seed gets to the embryo faster.

Seed spraying

The presence of a sufficient number of nutrients is an important condition for the germination of seeds, especially those that are small in size, and therefore a small supply of their own nutritional elements. Seeds of tomatoes, onions, carrots, cabbage are draped, that is covered with a layer of nutritious organic substances that adhere to the seed with the help of a starch solution - paste or freshly prepared mullein. Before dragee, the seeds are calibrated, that is, sorted, leaving the largest and regular shape. This method, which influences the conditions of germination of seeds, increases their germination capacity and enhances the germination energy.

In this article, the main conditions for seed germination were highlighted, namely, moisture, the optimum temperature depending on the plant species and its variety, the presence of oxygen in the air, and also in the soil, a sufficient supply of nutrients for the development of the embryo, and modern methods that improve seed germination conditions .