A seed is simply an unformed plant enclosed inside an enveloping, protective outer cover. The development of that seed, whether it is an indica or sativa, is only part of the reproductive process in seed plants, such as the gymnosperms and angiosperms. In fact, the entire gamete or “seed” of each plant consists of one complete reproductive cycle. This is true of most all seed forming plants. But the way that seeds are formed is not the same everywhere.
In comparison to other seed forming plants, grapes and peanuts have an unusually high rate of growth during the later parts of their fruiting period (about two weeks after a grapefruit’s fruit set, which is about seven days after planting) and a fairly low rate of growth during their initial dormant period (one to two weeks after a mango’s fruit set). Grape and peanut seeds are therefore harvested and taken to the grove in which they will be planted. The mango’s seedling will lie directly on the ground inside the grove, so it will be close at hand to aid in its transportation to the tree when it is ripe for planting. At this time the developing endosperm begins to sprout. As it grows, it pushes downward into the soil surrounding the parent plant and causes the parent plant to spread out horizontally from the base upward. So, the horizontal dimension of a seed’s outline essentially represents the horizontal extent from the tip of a seedling’s caudal stem to the base of its pseudobulb when it is fully developed in the field.
All seed-forming plants have two basic types of seeds: wet and dry. Wet seeds are known as globular seeds, which are similar in shape to peas. Dried seeds are generally described as crumbly or flaky ones, which are most often described as being slimy or waxy. The outer surface area of dry seeds is covered with an evolutionary fluid, while inner areas are devoid of any liquid. Seed coat thickness ranges from nearly impermeable to gelatinous.
It is important to note that not all seeds are suitable for use in producing food. Some seeds are destructive to plants; others are useful for development of food crops. Grains produced by the seeds of barberry, cress and alfalfa are widely used as fertilizers and in growing plants of other types. In the production of soft drinks, cashew nuts are used to substitute chocolates. Alfalfa is a great source of protein for vegetarian and non-vegetarian people, while sesame seeds are widely used in Chinese cooking.
After the successful establishment of a seedling, an elongated, somewhat flaccid, structure known as the ovule to form, which is a miniature version of the full-grown plant. The ovule is surrounded by an umbel of cells, which bear reproductive organs such as the nucleus, prothrombin and somatogaster. The production of these cells is triggered by the action of enzymes called transcription factors. In the case of flowering plants such as the peony flower and the orchid flower, there is no need for direct transcription. Direct transcription is facilitated by machinery called the orthologous machinery.
After the completion of one or both steps of seed development, an organism reaches the germ or a zygote. The zygote contains the genetic material for reproduction and the entire process of creation (including fertilization and formation) occurs in the germ. When fertilized plants bearing such seeds reach maturity, they are transferred from the vivarium to the outside world. On reaching the land, they begin to grow and develop into various plants.
In order to germinate seeds, some specialized apparatus are required. One such apparatus is the wind dispersal machine. This apparatus consists of a cylindrical tube having a number of spirals on its external end. Seeds are put in the inner tube through the spirals while water is gently sprayed over the seeds from the other end of the cylindrical tube. The seeds are thus sprayed all over the world at the beginning of summer.
It should be noted that the storage food for seeds like maize is not always the same for each plant. The maize seed coat may be slightly different for example. For this reason, it is important that when you purchase seed, you make sure that it is stored carefully and properly so that the quality of each seed remains intact. If not, you may end up with inconsistent quality seed which could lead to problems with some plants when they reach maturity.
